Fathom in Irish (Feá): Meaning, Pronunciation & Examples

Q: What is the Irish for fathom?

The Irish for fathom is feá (pronounced “fyaw”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is feánna. Depending on context it can also mean fathoming.

Q: What is the plural of fathom in Irish?

The plural of feá is feánna; with the article, na feánna means “the fathoms”. The genitive plural is feánna, as in doimhneacht na bhfeánna (the depth in fathoms).

Q: Does feá have more than one meaning?

Yes. Feá can mean fathom or fathoming, depending on context; the first is the most common. Feá also has its own entry as a noun, feminine meaning beech.

How to say “fathom” in Irish

Irish:: feá
English:: fathom, fathoming
Word type:: noun
Gender:: masculine, fourth declension
Pronunciation:: “fyaw” /fʲaː/

Various forms

Plural:: feánna (fathoms)
Genitive singular:: feá, an fheá (e.g. fad feá, the length of a fathom)
Genitive plural:: feánna, na bhfeánna (e.g. doimhneacht na bhfeánna, the depth in fathoms)

What does “feá” mean?

“Feá” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.

fathom: A unit for measuring the depth of water, equal to six feet or about 1.8 metres.Also: fathom of water, six feet, depth measure.

1 other meaning: fathoming

2fathoming: The act of measuring depth in fathoms; the verbal noun of the verb feáigh.Also: sounding, measuring depth.

Other entries for “feá”

The same spelling has its own page as:

feábeech · noun, feminine

“Feá” with the article

The plural of fathom in Irish is feánna. Here is feá after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.

an feá

the fathom

No change after an

na feánna

the fathoms

Plural: no change after na

“Feá” in a sentence: Irish examples

Common Irish sentences using feá, the Irish word for fathom.

Tá an t-uisce anseo deich bhfeá ar doimhneacht.

The water here is ten fathoms deep.

Is ionann feá agus sé throigh.

A fathom is the same as six feet.

Scaoil sé feá amháin eile den rópa.

He let out one more fathom of the rope.

Bhí an t-ancaire i bhfiche feá uisce.

The anchor was in twenty fathoms of water.

Thomhais na hiascairí an doimhneacht i bhfeánna.

The fishermen measured the depth in fathoms.

Ní raibh ach cúpla feá faoin mbád.

There were only a couple of fathoms under the boat.

Tá an líon céad feá ar fad.

The net is a hundred fathoms long.

Other nouns in Irish

More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.

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Fathom in Irish: frequently asked questions

What is the Irish for fathom?

The Irish for fathom is feá (pronounced “fyaw”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is feánna. Depending on context it can also mean fathoming.

How do you pronounce feá in Irish?

Feá is said like “fyaw” (IPA /fʲaː/).

What is the plural of fathom in Irish?

The plural of feá is feánna; with the article, na feánna means “the fathoms”. The genitive plural is feánna, as in doimhneacht na bhfeánna (the depth in fathoms).

Does feá have more than one meaning?

Yes. Feá can mean fathom or fathoming, depending on context; the first is the most common. Feá also has its own entry as a noun, feminine meaning beech.

Why does feá change to fheá or bhfeá?

Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) feá becomes m'fheá (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár bhfeá (eclipsis).

Is feá also the word for the beech tree?

There is a separate homonym feá meaning beech, as in crann feá, but this entry covers feá as the measure of depth, the fathom.

Fathom in Irish (Feá): Meaning, Pronunciation, Usage