HeyRuaHow to say “great-uncle” in Irish
- Irish:
- seanuncail
- English:
- great-uncle
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine
- Pronunciation:
- “SHAN-unk-il” /ˈʃanˌʊŋkəlʲ/
- Plural:
- seanuncailí (great-uncles)
- Genitive singular:
- seanuncail, an tseanuncail (e.g. teach an tseanuncail, the great-uncle's house)
- Genitive plural:
- seanuncailí, na seanuncailí (e.g. clann na seanuncailí, the great-uncles' children)
What does “seanuncail” mean?
- great-uncle
- The brother of your grandfather or grandmother.Also: grand-uncle, granduncle.
“Seanuncail” with the article
The plural of great-uncle in Irish is seanuncailí. Here is seanuncail after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Seanuncail” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using seanuncail, the Irish word for great-uncle.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Great-uncle in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for great-uncle?
The Irish for great-uncle is seanuncail (pronounced “SHAN-unk-il”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is seanuncailí.
How do you pronounce seanuncail in Irish?
Seanuncail is said like “SHAN-unk-il” (IPA /ˈʃanˌʊŋkəlʲ/).
What is the plural of great-uncle in Irish?
The plural of seanuncail is seanuncailí; with the article, na seanuncailí means “the great-uncles”. The genitive plural is seanuncailí, as in clann na seanuncailí (the great-uncles' children).
Why does seanuncail change to sheanuncail?
After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo sheanuncail. After ár (our) it stays ár seanuncail, because s does not take eclipsis.
Is there another word for great-uncle?
Yes, 'uncail mór' is sometimes heard, but 'seanuncail' is the standard dictionary term, matching 'seanaintín' for great-aunt.
