HeyRuaHow to say “handful” in Irish
- Irish:
- slám
- English:
- handful, tuft, wisp
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “slawm” /sl̪ˠɑːmˠ/
- Plural:
- slámanna (handfuls)
- Genitive singular:
- slám, an tslám (e.g. lán an tslám, the full of the handful)
- Genitive plural:
- slámanna, na slámanna (e.g. carn slámanna olla, a heap of tufts of wool)
What does “slám” mean?
“Slám” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- handful
- A loose quantity or small amount of something, often taken up in the hand.Also: amount, quantity, bunch.
“Slám” with the article
The plural of handful in Irish is slámanna. Here is slám after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Slám” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using slám, the Irish word for handful.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Handful in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for handful?
The Irish for handful is slám (pronounced “slawm”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is slámanna. Depending on context it can also mean tuft or wisp.
How do you pronounce slám in Irish?
Slám is said like “slawm” (IPA /sl̪ˠɑːmˠ/).
What is the plural of handful in Irish?
The plural of slám is slámanna; with the article, na slámanna means “the handfuls”. The genitive plural is slámanna, as in carn slámanna olla (a heap of tufts of wool).
Does slám have more than one meaning?
Yes. Slám can mean handful, tuft or wisp, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does slám change to shlám?
After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo shlám. After ár (our) it stays ár slám, because s does not take eclipsis.
How does slám differ from dornán?
Dornán is literally a fistful, while slám is a looser amount or tuft and is often used for 'a good lot', as in slám airgid.
