HeyRuaHow to say “holm” in Irish
- Irish:
- srath
- English:
- holm, river valley
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine
- Pronunciation:
- “srah” /sˠɾˠah/
- Plural:
- sratha (holms)
- Genitive singular:
- sratha, an tsratha (e.g. féar an tsratha, the grass of the holm)
- Genitive plural:
- srath, na srath (e.g. talamh na srath, the land of the river meadows)
What does “srath” mean?
“Srath” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- holm
- Flat, low-lying land beside a river, usually rich and fertile.Also: river meadow, bottom land, flat land by a river, water meadow.
1 other meaning: river valley
- 2river valley
- A broad valley through which a river flows; a strath.Also: strath, valley, vale.
“Srath” with the article
The plural of holm in Irish is sratha. Here is srath after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Srath” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using srath, the Irish word for holm.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Holm in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for holm?
The Irish for holm is srath (pronounced “srah”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is sratha. Depending on context it can also mean river valley.
How do you pronounce srath in Irish?
Srath is said like “srah” (IPA /sˠɾˠah/).
What is the plural of holm in Irish?
The plural of srath is sratha; with the article, na sratha means “the holms”. The genitive plural is srath, as in talamh na srath (the land of the river meadows).
Does srath have more than one meaning?
Yes. Srath can mean holm or river valley, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does srath change to shrath?
After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo shrath. After ár (our) it stays ár srath, because s does not take eclipsis.
How is 'srath' different from 'gleann'?
'Gleann' is a general word for a valley or glen, while 'srath' refers especially to the flat riverside land or broad valley floor along a river.
Does 'srath' appear in place names?
Yes, it is found in names such as Srath Bán (Strabane), and it is related to Scottish 'strath'.
