HeyRuaHow to say “infant” in Irish
- Irish:
- bunóc
- English:
- infant
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, second declension
- Pronunciation:
- “buh-NOAK” /bˠʊˈn̪ˠoːk/
- Plural:
- bunóca (infants)
- Genitive singular:
- bunóice, na bunóice (e.g. cliabhán na bunóice, the infant's cradle)
- Genitive plural:
- bunóc, na mbunóc (e.g. cúram na mbunóc, the care of the infants)
What does “bunóc” mean?
- infant
- A very young child, especially a newborn baby.Also: baby, newborn, babe.
Other Irish words for infant: naíonán (infant), babaí (baby), naí (infant)
“Bunóc” with the article
The plural of infant in Irish is bunóca. Here is bunóc after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Bunóc” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using bunóc, the Irish word for infant.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Infant in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for infant?
The Irish for infant is bunóc (pronounced “buh-NOAK”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is bunóca.
How do you pronounce bunóc in Irish?
Bunóc is said like “buh-NOAK” (IPA /bˠʊˈn̪ˠoːk/).
What is the plural of infant in Irish?
The plural of bunóc is bunóca; with the article, na bunóca means “the infants”. The genitive plural is bunóc, as in cúram na mbunóc (the care of the infants).
Why does bunóc change to bhunóc or mbunóc?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) bunóc becomes mo bhunóc (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár mbunóc (eclipsis).
What is the difference between bunóc and naíonán?
Both mean a baby; naíonán is the more general and official word, while bunóc is a warmer, more colloquial word for a small infant, common in Munster.
