HeyRuaHow to say “force” in Irish
- Irish:
- éigean
- English:
- force, necessity, distress
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “AY-gyun” /ˈeːɟən̪ˠ/
- Genitive singular:
- éigin, an éigin (e.g. lucht an éigin, the perpetrators of violence)
What does “éigean” mean?
“Éigean” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- force
- Force or violence used against someone, especially to make them do something.Also: violence, compulsion, coercion.
2 other meanings: necessity or distress
- 2necessity
- Need or compulsion, mostly used in the phrase 'is éigean dom' meaning 'I must'.Also: need, obligation, must.
- 3distress
- A difficult situation, hardship or emergency.Also: difficulty, strait, emergency, want.
Other Irish words for force: neart (strength), fórsa (force), foréigean (violence), fórsáil (force)
“Éigean” with the article
Here is éigean after the article (an t-alt).
“Éigean” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using éigean, the Irish word for force.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Force in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for force?
The Irish for force is éigean (pronounced “AY-gyun”). It’s a masculine noun. Depending on context it can also mean necessity or distress.
How do you pronounce éigean in Irish?
Éigean is said like “AY-gyun” (IPA /ˈeːɟən̪ˠ/).
Does éigean have a plural?
No plural form is given for éigean in the standard. Many abstract and mass nouns in Irish have no plural.
Does éigean have more than one meaning?
Yes. Éigean can mean force, necessity or distress, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does éigean sometimes have a t or h in front of it?
Irish nouns beginning with a vowel take a prefix after certain words: an t-éigean (the force), a héigean (her force), a n-éigean (their force).
Is 'éigean' the same word as 'éigin' meaning 'some'?
In 'lá éigin' (some day), 'éigin' is the indefinite adjective 'some', which looks like the genitive of 'éigean' but is used differently. 'Is éigean dom' means 'I must'.
What does 'ar éigean' mean?
'Ar éigean' means 'barely' or 'hardly', as in 'Is ar éigean a d'éirigh liom' (I barely managed).
