HeyRuaHow to say “face” in Irish
- Irish:
- gnúis
- English:
- face, expression, wry face
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, second declension
- Pronunciation:
- “gnoosh” /ɡnˠuːʃ/
- Plural:
- gnúiseanna (faces)
- Genitive singular:
- gnúise, na gnúise (e.g. dath na gnúise, the colour of the face)
- Genitive plural:
- gnúiseanna, na ngnúiseanna (e.g. cuimhne na ngnúiseanna, the memory of the faces)
What does “gnúis” mean?
“Gnúis” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- face
- The front part of the head, especially as seen in a person's features; a literary or formal word for face.Also: countenance, visage, features.
“Gnúis” with the article
The plural of face in Irish is gnúiseanna. Here is gnúis after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Gnúis” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using gnúis, the Irish word for face.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Face in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for face?
The Irish for face is gnúis (pronounced “gnoosh”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is gnúiseanna. Depending on context it can also mean expression or wry face.
How do you pronounce gnúis in Irish?
Gnúis is said like “gnoosh” (IPA /ɡnˠuːʃ/).
What is the plural of face in Irish?
The plural of gnúis is gnúiseanna; with the article, na gnúiseanna means “the faces”. The genitive plural is gnúiseanna, as in cuimhne na ngnúiseanna (the memory of the faces).
Does gnúis have more than one meaning?
Yes. Gnúis can mean face, expression or wry face, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does gnúis change to ghnúis or ngnúis?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) gnúis becomes mo ghnúis (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár ngnúis (eclipsis).
What is the difference between 'gnúis' and 'aghaidh'?
'Aghaidh' is the everyday word for face, while 'gnúis' is more literary and often stresses the expression, as in 'gnúis ghruama' (a gloomy countenance).
What does 'gnúis a chur ort féin' mean?
It means to make a sour or wry face, to scowl, for example 'Chuir sé gnúis air féin' (He pulled a face).
