HeyRuaHow to say “god” in Irish
- Irish:
- dia
- English:
- god
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine
- Pronunciation:
- “jee-uh” /dʲiə/
- Plural:
- déithe (gods)
- Genitive singular:
- dé, an dé (e.g. toil Dé, the will of God)
- Genitive plural:
- déithe, na ndéithe (e.g. ainmneacha na ndéithe, the names of the gods)
What does “dia” mean?
“Dia” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- god
- A divine being worshipped by people, one of many in a religion with several gods.Also: deity, divinity.
1 other meaning:
- 2god
- The one supreme being in Christianity and other monotheistic religions, usually written with a capital: Dia.Also: lord, almighty.
“Dia” with the article
The plural of god in Irish is déithe. Here is dia after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Dia” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using dia, the Irish word for god.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Phrases with “dia”
God in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for god?
The Irish for god is dia (pronounced “jee-uh”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is déithe.
How do you pronounce dia in Irish?
Dia is said like “jee-uh” (IPA /dʲiə/).
What is the plural of god in Irish?
The plural of dia is déithe; with the article, na déithe means “the gods”. The genitive plural is déithe, as in ainmneacha na ndéithe (the names of the gods).
Why does dia change to dhia or ndia?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) dia becomes mo dhia (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár ndia (eclipsis).
How do I answer 'Dia duit'?
The usual reply is 'Dia is Muire duit', meaning God and Mary to you. To a group you say 'Dia daoibh'.
Is 'dia' used in the names of the days?
No. Dé in day names such as Dé Luain (Monday) and Dé hAoine (Friday) means 'day'. It comes from a different old word and is not the genitive of dia 'god'.
