HeyRuaHow to say “grandfather” in Irish
- Irish:
- seanathair
- English:
- grandfather
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, fifth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “SHAN-a-hir” /ˈʃanˠahəɾʲ/
- Plural:
- seanaithreacha (grandfathers)
- Genitive singular:
- seanathar, an tseanathar (e.g. teach mo sheanathar, my grandfather's house)
- Genitive plural:
- seanaithreacha, na seanaithreacha (e.g. scéalta ár seanaithreacha, our grandfathers' stories)
What does “seanathair” mean?
- grandfather
- The father of your mother or father.Also: grandad, granddad, grandpa.
“Seanathair” with the article
The plural of grandfather in Irish is seanaithreacha. Here is seanathair after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Seanathair” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using seanathair, the Irish word for grandfather.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Grandfather in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for grandfather?
The Irish for grandfather is seanathair (pronounced “SHAN-a-hir”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is seanaithreacha.
How do you pronounce seanathair in Irish?
Seanathair is said like “SHAN-a-hir” (IPA /ˈʃanˠahəɾʲ/).
What is the plural of grandfather in Irish?
The plural of seanathair is seanaithreacha; with the article, na seanaithreacha means “the grandfathers”. The genitive plural is seanaithreacha, as in scéalta ár seanaithreacha (our grandfathers' stories).
Why does seanathair change to sheanathair?
After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo sheanathair. After ár (our) it stays ár seanathair, because s does not take eclipsis.
Is there a more informal word for grandad?
Many children say 'daideo' for grandad, while 'seanathair' is the standard dictionary word.
How do I say great-grandfather?
Use 'sin-seanathair' for great-grandfather.
