HeyRuaHow to say “female” in Irish
- Irish:
- baineannach
- English:
- female, having female offspring
- Word type:
- adjective
- More female:
- níos baineannaí
- Most female:
- is baineannaí
- Plural:
- baineannacha
- Pronunciation:
- “BAN-yen-ukh” /ˈbˠanʲənˠəx/
What does “baineannach” mean?
“Baineannach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- female
- Of the female sex, used especially of animals and plants, or in grammar of feminine forms.Also: feminine, she-.
1 other meaning: having female offspring
- 2having female offspring
- Producing or giving birth to female young.Also: bearing females.
Other Irish adjectives for female: baineann (female)
The same spelling has its own page as:
“Baineannach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is baineannach after ainmhí (animal, masculine), after bean (woman, feminine) and after a plural.
séimhiú (the h) the ending
After a feminine noun the adjective gets a séimhiú, an h after its first letter: bean bhaineannach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: ainmhí baineannach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, baineannacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: mná baineannacha.
More female, most female, very female
Tá an tréad seo níos baineannaí ná an ceann eile. This herd has more females than the other one.
| more female | níos baineannaí | in the past tense: ní ba bhaineannaí |
|---|---|---|
| most female | is baineannaí | in the past tense: ba bhaineannaí |
| as female as | chomh baineannach le | no change after chomh |
| very female | an-bhaineannach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too female | róbhaineannach | ró- lenites |
“Baineannach” in a sentence: Irish examples
With a masculine noun, a feminine noun, a plural, a comparison and on its own.
Other adjectives in Irish
More everyday Irish adjectives to learn next.
Female in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for female?
The Irish for female is baineannach (pronounced “BAN-yen-ukh”). It comes after the noun: ainmhí baineannach, a female animal; bean bhaineannach, a female woman.
How do you say more female and most female in Irish?
níos baineannaí is more female and is baineannaí is most female. In the past tense they become ní ba bhaineannaí and ba bhaineannaí.
Why does baineannach become bhaineannach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean bhaineannach (a female woman) but ainmhí baineannach (a female animal), because ainmhí is masculine.
What is the plural of baineannach?
With a plural noun baineannach becomes baineannacha: ainmhithe baineannacha, mná baineannacha.
How do you say very female in Irish?
an-bhaineannach. Too female is róbhaineannach, and as female as is chomh baineannach le.
Does baineannach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Baineannach can mean female or having female offspring, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'baineannach' and 'baineann'?
Both mean female, but 'baineann' is the more usual adjective, as in 'inscne bhaineann' (feminine gender); 'baineannach' is also a noun meaning a female.
What is the opposite of 'baineannach'?
The opposite is 'fireannach' or 'fireann', meaning male.
