HeyRuaHow to say “hen” in Irish
- Irish:
- cearc
- English:
- hen, female bird
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, second declension
- Pronunciation:
- “kyark” /caɾˠk/
- Plural:
- cearca (hens)
- Genitive singular:
- circe, na circe (e.g. ubh na circe, the hen's egg)
- Genitive plural:
- cearc, na gcearc (e.g. teach na gcearc, the henhouse)
What does “cearc” mean?
“Cearc” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- hen
- An adult female chicken kept for its eggs or meat.Also: chicken, fowl.
1 other meaning: female bird
- 2female bird
- The female of various birds, used in names such as 'cearc fhraoigh' (grouse hen).Also: hen bird.
“Cearc” with the article
The plural of hen in Irish is cearca. Here is cearc after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Cearc” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using cearc, the Irish word for hen.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Hen in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for hen?
The Irish for hen is cearc (pronounced “kyark”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is cearca. Depending on context it can also mean female bird.
How do you pronounce cearc in Irish?
Cearc is said like “kyark” (IPA /caɾˠk/).
What is the plural of hen in Irish?
The plural of cearc is cearca; with the article, na cearca means “the hens”. The genitive plural is cearc, as in teach na gcearc (the henhouse).
Does cearc have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cearc can mean hen or female bird, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does cearc change to chearc or gcearc?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) cearc becomes mo chearc (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár gcearc (eclipsis).
What is the difference between 'cearc' and 'sicín'?
'Cearc' is a hen, the live bird, while 'sicín' is a young chick or chicken meat, as in 'sicín rósta' (roast chicken).
What is the word for a rooster?
A rooster or cock is 'coileach', the male counterpart of 'cearc'.
