HeyRuaHow to say “holiday” in Irish
- Irish:
- saoire
- English:
- holiday, leave
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “SEER-uh” /ˈsˠiːɾʲə/
- Plural:
- saoirí (holidays)
- Genitive singular:
- saoire, na saoire (e.g. laethanta saoire, holidays (days of holiday))
- Genitive plural:
- saoirí, na saoirí (e.g. costas na saoirí, the cost of the holidays)
What does “saoire” mean?
“Saoire” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- holiday
- A period of time off work or school, often spent travelling or relaxing.Also: vacation, holidays, time off, break.
1 other meaning: leave
- 2leave
- Time officially allowed off work, such as sick leave or maternity leave.Also: time off work, day off.
“Saoire” with the article
The plural of holiday in Irish is saoirí. Here is saoire after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Saoire” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using saoire, the Irish word for holiday.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Phrases with “saoire”
Holiday in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for holiday?
The Irish for holiday is saoire (pronounced “SEER-uh”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is saoirí. Depending on context it can also mean leave.
How do you pronounce saoire in Irish?
Saoire is said like “SEER-uh” (IPA /ˈsˠiːɾʲə/).
What is the plural of holiday in Irish?
The plural of saoire is saoirí; with the article, na saoirí means “the holidays”. The genitive plural is saoirí, as in costas na saoirí (the cost of the holidays).
Does saoire have more than one meaning?
Yes. Saoire can mean holiday or leave, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does saoire change to shaoire?
After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo shaoire. After ár (our) it stays ár saoire, because s does not take eclipsis.
What is the difference between 'saoire' and 'saoirse'?
'Saoire' means holiday or leave, while 'saoirse' means freedom. They look similar but are different words.
How do I say 'on holiday' in Irish?
Use 'ar saoire', as in 'Tá siad ar saoire'. For school or summer holidays, 'laethanta saoire' is very common.
