HeyRuaHow to say “female friend” in Irish
- Irish:
- banchara
- English:
- female friend
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine
- Pronunciation:
- “BAN-khar-uh” /ˈbˠanˌxaɾˠə/
- Plural:
- banchairde (female friends)
- Genitive singular:
- bancharad, an bhancharad (e.g. teach an bhancharad, the female friend's house)
- Genitive plural:
- banchairde, na mbanchairde (e.g. cóisir na mbanchairde, the female friends' party)
What does “banchara” mean?
- female friend
- A woman or girl who is someone's friend.Also: woman friend, lady friend, girlfriend.
“Banchara” with the article
The plural of female friend in Irish is banchairde. Here is banchara after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Banchara” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using banchara, the Irish word for female friend.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Female friend in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for female friend?
The Irish for female friend is banchara (pronounced “BAN-khar-uh”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is banchairde.
How do you pronounce banchara in Irish?
Banchara is said like “BAN-khar-uh” (IPA /ˈbˠanˌxaɾˠə/).
What is the plural of female friend in Irish?
The plural of banchara is banchairde; with the article, na banchairde means “the female friends”. The genitive plural is banchairde, as in cóisir na mbanchairde (the female friends' party).
Why does banchara change to bhanchara or mbanchara?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) banchara becomes mo bhanchara (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár mbanchara (eclipsis).
Does 'banchara' mean girlfriend in a romantic sense?
Not necessarily: 'banchara' is any female friend. For a romantic partner, 'cailín' or 'leannán' is often used, though context can give 'banchara' that meaning.
Is 'banchara' feminine because it refers to a woman?
No, like 'cara' it is grammatically masculine, but adjectives after it are often lenited in usage, as in 'banchara mhaith'.
