HeyRuaHow to say “foot” in Irish
- Irish:
- cos
- English:
- foot, leg, leg (of furniture), stem, handle
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, second declension
- Pronunciation:
- “kus” /kos/
- Plural:
- cosa (feet)
- Genitive singular:
- coise, na coise (e.g. méar na coise, the toe)
- Genitive plural:
- cos, na gcos (e.g. fuaim na gcos, the sound of feet)
What does “cos” mean?
“Cos” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- foot
- The part of the body at the end of the leg that you stand and walk on.Also: human foot.
2 other meanings: leg or leg (of furniture), stem, handle
- 2leg
- The limb of a person or animal used for standing and walking; in Irish 'cos' often covers the whole leg.Also: limb.
- 3leg (of furniture), stem, handle
- A supporting part of an object, such as the leg of a table or chair, or the stem or shaft of a tool.Also: leg, stem, handle, shaft.
Other Irish words for foot: troigh (foot)
“Cos” with the article
The plural of foot in Irish is cosa. Here is cos after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Cos” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using cos, the Irish word for foot.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Foot in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for foot?
The Irish for foot is cos (pronounced “kus”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is cosa. Depending on context it can also mean leg or leg (of furniture), stem, handle.
How do you pronounce cos in Irish?
Cos is said like “kus” (IPA /kos/).
What is the plural of foot in Irish?
The plural of cos is cosa; with the article, na cosa means “the feet”. The genitive plural is cos, as in fuaim na gcos (the sound of feet).
Does cos have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cos can mean foot, leg or leg (of furniture), stem, handle, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does cos change to chos or gcos?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) cos becomes mo chos (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár gcos (eclipsis).
Does 'cos' mean foot or leg?
Both: 'cos' covers the foot and the whole leg, and context decides. For the foot specifically you can say 'troigh', and 'bonn na coise' is the sole.
What does 'cos ar bolg' mean?
'Cos ar bolg', literally 'foot on belly', means oppression or tyranny.
