HeyRuaHow to say “ground” in Irish
- Irish:
- talamh
- English:
- ground, land, earth
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine
- Pronunciation:
- “TAL-uv” /ˈt̪ˠalˠəw/
- Plural:
- tailte (grounds)
- Genitive singular:
- talaimh, an talaimh (e.g. luach an talaimh, the value of the land); also talún
- Genitive plural:
- tailte, na dtailte (e.g. úinéirí na dtailte, the owners of the lands)
What does “talamh” mean?
“Talamh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- ground
- The solid surface of the earth that you stand or walk on.Also: floor, earth.
2 other meanings: land or earth
- 2land
- An area of land owned or farmed by someone, or dry land as opposed to sea.Also: farmland, property, soil.
- 3earth
- The world we live on, as opposed to heaven.Also: world.
Other Irish words for ground: fearann (land)
“Talamh” with the article
The plural of ground in Irish is tailte. Here is talamh after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Talamh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using talamh, the Irish word for ground.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Ground in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for ground?
The Irish for ground is talamh (pronounced “TAL-uv”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is tailte. Depending on context it can also mean land or earth.
How do you pronounce talamh in Irish?
Talamh is said like “TAL-uv” (IPA /ˈt̪ˠalˠəw/).
What is the plural of ground in Irish?
The plural of talamh is tailte; with the article, na tailte means “the grounds”. The genitive plural is tailte, as in úinéirí na dtailte (the owners of the lands).
Does talamh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Talamh can mean ground, land or earth, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does talamh change to thalamh or dtalamh?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) talamh becomes mo thalamh (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár dtalamh (eclipsis).
Which genitive should I use, talaimh or talún?
Both are standard; talún (feminine use) is very common in fixed phrases such as 'píosa talún' and 'luach na talún', while talaimh follows the masculine use.
How is talamh different from tír?
Talamh is ground, soil or land as property, while tír means a country or land as opposed to sea in phrases like 'ar tír'.
