Habit in Irish (Béas): Meaning, Pronunciation & Examples

Q: What is the Irish for habit?

The Irish for habit is béas (pronounced “bayss”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is béasa. Depending on context it can also mean manners.

Q: What is the plural of habit in Irish?

The plural of béas is béasa; with the article, na béasa means “the habits”. The genitive plural is béas, as in easpa na mbéas (the lack of manners).

Q: Does béas have more than one meaning?

Yes. Béas can mean habit or manners, depending on context; the first is the most common.

How to say “habit” in Irish

Irish:: béas
English:: habit, manners
Word type:: noun
Gender:: masculine, third declension
Pronunciation:: “bayss” /bʲeːsˠ/

Various forms

Plural:: béasa (habits)
Genitive singular:: béasa, an bhéasa (e.g. neart an bhéasa, the strength of the habit)
Genitive plural:: béas, na mbéas (e.g. easpa na mbéas, the lack of manners)

What does “béas” mean?

“Béas” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.

habit: A custom or habitual way of behaving.Also: custom, wont, practice.

1 other meaning: manners

2manners: In the plural, béasa means a person's manners or conduct towards others.Also: conduct, behaviour, morals.

“Béas” with the article

The plural of habit in Irish is béasa. Here is béas after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.

an béas

the habit

No change after an

na béasa

the habits

Plural: no change after na

“Béas” in a sentence: Irish examples

Common Irish sentences using béas, the Irish word for habit.

Tá béasa maithe ag na páistí sin.

Those children have good manners.

Ní béas liom caife a ól san oíche.

I'm not in the habit of drinking coffee at night.

Bhí sé de bhéas aige siúl gach maidin.

He was in the habit of walking every morning.

Cá bhfuil do bhéasa?

Where are your manners?

Is deacair an béas sin a bhriseadh.

That habit is hard to break.

Mhúin mo mháthair béasa dúinn.

My mother taught us manners.

Ba é béas na háite é.

It was the custom of the place.

Other nouns in Irish

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Habit in Irish: frequently asked questions

What is the Irish for habit?

The Irish for habit is béas (pronounced “bayss”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is béasa. Depending on context it can also mean manners.

How do you pronounce béas in Irish?

Béas is said like “bayss” (IPA /bʲeːsˠ/).

What is the plural of habit in Irish?

The plural of béas is béasa; with the article, na béasa means “the habits”. The genitive plural is béas, as in easpa na mbéas (the lack of manners).

Does béas have more than one meaning?

Yes. Béas can mean habit or manners, depending on context; the first is the most common.

Why does béas change to bhéas or mbéas?

Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) béas becomes mo bhéas (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár mbéas (eclipsis).

What is the difference between béas and nós?

Both can mean custom or habit, but béas leans towards personal habit and, in the plural béasa, manners, while nós is more often a custom or fashion.

How do I say someone has bad manners?

Say 'níl aon bhéasa air' or 'tá drochbhéasa aige'.

Habit in Irish (Béas): Meaning, Pronunciation, Usage