Festival in Irish (Féile): Meaning & Pronunciation

Q: What is the Irish for festival?

The Irish for festival is féile (pronounced “FAY-luh”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is féilte. Depending on context it can also mean feast day or generosity.

Q: What is the plural of festival in Irish?

The plural of féile is féilte; with the article, na féilte means “the festivals”. The genitive plural is féilte, as in clár na bhféilte (the festivals programme).

Q: Does féile have more than one meaning?

Yes. Féile can mean festival, feast day or generosity, depending on context; the first is the most common.

How to say “festival” in Irish

Irish:: féile
English:: festival, feast day, generosity
Word type:: noun
Gender:: feminine, fourth declension
Pronunciation:: “FAY-luh” /ˈfʲeːlʲə/

Various forms

Plural:: féilte (festivals)
Genitive singular:: féile, na féile (e.g. clár na féile, the festival programme)
Genitive plural:: féilte, na bhféilte (e.g. clár na bhféilte, the festivals programme)

What does “féile” mean?

“Féile” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.

festival: An organised event or series of events celebrating music, arts, culture or a special occasion.Also: fest, celebration, fair.

2 other meanings: feast day or generosity

2feast day: A religious feast or holy day on which a saint or event is celebrated.Also: feast, holy day, saint's day.
3generosity: Generosity or hospitality shown to others.Also: hospitality, liberality.

Other Irish words for festival: feis (festival), carnabhal (carnival)

“Féile” with the article

The plural of festival in Irish is féilte. Here is féile after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.

an fhéile

the festival

Lenition: f becomes fh after an (feminine noun)

na féilte

the festivals

Plural: no change after na

“Féile” in a sentence: Irish examples

Common Irish sentences using féile, the Irish word for festival.

Cén uair a bheidh an fhéile ar siúl?

When will the festival be on?

Bhí an-chraic againn san fhéile i nGaillimh.

We had great fun at the festival in Galway.

Tá ticéid na féile díolta cheana féin.

The festival tickets are already sold out.

Bíonn go leor féilte ceoil ann sa samhradh.

There are lots of music festivals in summer.

Is lá féile é inniu, níl scoil ann.

Today is a feast day, there's no school.

Chuaigh mo chairde chuig féile scannán.

My friends went to a film festival.

Bhí an aimsir go hálainn i rith na féile.

The weather was lovely during the festival.

Other nouns in Irish

More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.

múinteoirteacher raidióradio drámaplay cillchurch achtact leithéidthe like

Phrases with “féile”

Lá Fhéile Vailintín sona duithappy Valentine's Day Beannachtaí na Féile Bríde orthappy St Brigid's Day Lá Fhéile BrídeSt Brigid's Day Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig orthappy St Patrick's Day Lá Fhéile PádraigSt Patrick's Day

Festival in Irish: frequently asked questions

What is the Irish for festival?

The Irish for festival is féile (pronounced “FAY-luh”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is féilte. Depending on context it can also mean feast day or generosity.

How do you pronounce féile in Irish?

Féile is said like “FAY-luh” (IPA /ˈfʲeːlʲə/).

What is the plural of festival in Irish?

The plural of féile is féilte; with the article, na féilte means “the festivals”. The genitive plural is féilte, as in clár na bhféilte (the festivals programme).

Does féile have more than one meaning?

Yes. Féile can mean festival, feast day or generosity, depending on context; the first is the most common.

Why does féile change to fhéile or bhféile?

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

Why is it 'Lá Fhéile Pádraig' with lenition?

In saints' feast names, féile is lenited after lá as a fixed genitive phrase: Lá Fhéile Pádraig, Lá Fhéile Bríde.

What is the difference between féile and fleá?

Féile is the general word for a festival or feast, while fleá usually means a lively music festival, as in Fleá Cheoil.

Festival in Irish (Féile): Meaning, Pronunciation, Usage