HeyRuaHow to say “heart” in Irish
- Irish:
- croí
- English:
- heart, core, sweetheart
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “kree” /kɾˠiː/
- Plural:
- croíthe (hearts)
- Genitive singular:
- croí, an chroí (e.g. taom croí, heart attack)
- Genitive plural:
- croíthe, na gcroíthe (e.g. bualadh na gcroíthe, the beating of the hearts)
What does “croí” mean?
“Croí” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- heart
- The organ in the chest that pumps blood around the body.Also: heart organ, cardiac.
3 other meanings: core or sweetheart
- 2heart
- The heart as the seat of feelings, love and courage.Also: feelings, spirit, courage.
- 3core
- The centre or innermost part of something.Also: centre, middle, hub.
- 4sweetheart
- A term of endearment for a loved person, as in 'a chroí'.Also: darling, dear, love.
Other Irish words for heart: croílár (very centre)
“Croí” with the article
The plural of heart in Irish is croíthe. Here is croí after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Croí” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using croí, the Irish word for heart.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Phrases with “croí”
Heart in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for heart?
The Irish for heart is croí (pronounced “kree”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is croíthe. Depending on context it can also mean core or sweetheart.
How do you pronounce croí in Irish?
Croí is said like “kree” (IPA /kɾˠiː/).
What is the plural of heart in Irish?
The plural of croí is croíthe; with the article, na croíthe means “the hearts”. The genitive plural is croíthe, as in bualadh na gcroíthe (the beating of the hearts).
Does croí have more than one meaning?
Yes. Croí can mean heart, core or sweetheart, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does croí change to chroí or gcroí?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) croí becomes mo chroí (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár gcroí (eclipsis).
How do I say 'with all my heart'?
Say 'ó chroí' or 'le mo chroí go léir'; 'go raibh maith agat ó chroí' means 'thank you sincerely'.
What does 'a chroí' mean?
It is the vocative used as an endearment, like 'dear' or 'love'; 'a stór mo chroí' means 'darling of my heart'.
