HeyRuaHow to say “female” in Irish
- Irish:
- baineann
- English:
- female, feminine, effeminate
- Word type:
- adjective
- More female:
- níos baininne
- Most female:
- is baininne
- Plural:
- baineanna
- Pronunciation:
- “BAN-yun” /ˈbˠanʲən̪ˠ/
What does “baineann” mean?
“Baineann” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- female
- Of the sex that bears young or produces eggs.Also: she-, hen.
2 other meanings: feminine or effeminate
- 2feminine
- Of the feminine grammatical gender.Also: feminine gender.
- 3effeminate
- Having qualities thought of as womanly, said of a man.Also: womanish.
“Baineann” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is baineann after cat (cat, 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 bhaineann. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: cat baineann.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, baineanna. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: cait bhaineanna; after other plurals it does not: mná baineanna.
More female, most female, very female
| more female | níos baininne | in the past tense: ní ba bhaininne |
|---|---|---|
| most female | is baininne | in the past tense: ba bhaininne |
| as female as | chomh baineann le | no change after chomh |
| very female | an-bhaineann | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too female | róbhaineann | ró- lenites |
“Baineann” 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 baineann (pronounced “BAN-yun”). It comes after the noun: cat baineann, a female cat; bean bhaineann, a female woman.
How do you say more female and most female in Irish?
níos baininne is more female and is baininne is most female. In the past tense they become ní ba bhaininne and ba bhaininne.
Why does baineann become bhaineann?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean bhaineann (a female woman) but cat baineann (a female cat), because cat is masculine.
What is the plural of baineann?
With a plural noun baineann becomes baineanna: cait bhaineanna, mná baineanna. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very female in Irish?
an-bhaineann. Too female is róbhaineann, and as female as is chomh baineann le.
Does baineann have more than one meaning?
Yes. Baineann can mean female, feminine or effeminate, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the opposite of "baineann"?
The opposite is "fireann", male or masculine, as in "cat fireann", a male cat.
Is "baineann" the same as "baininscneach"?
Both can mean feminine in grammar, but "baininscneach" is used only for grammatical gender, while "baineann" also means female in biology.
