HeyRuaHow to say “Ireland” in Irish
- Irish:
- Éire
- English:
- Ireland
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine
- Pronunciation:
- “AY-ruh” /ˈeːɾʲə/
- Genitive singular:
- Éireann (e.g. muintir na hÉireann, the people of Ireland)
What does “Éire” mean?
- Ireland
- The island in north-western Europe, and also the name of the state that covers most of it.Also: Eire, Irish Republic, island of Ireland.
Éire, in Éirinn, muintir na hÉireann: the three shapes of “Éire”
Éire is one of the few Irish nouns that still has three everyday shapes. Which one you use depends on the word in front of it.
Official names often drop the na and use Éireann on its own: Dáil Éireann, Seanad Éireann, Bus Éireann, Iarnród Éireann. An Irish person is an Éireannach, and the language is Gaeilge.
“Éire” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using Éire, the Irish word for Ireland.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Ireland in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for Ireland?
The Irish for Ireland is Éire (pronounced “AY-ruh”). It’s a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce Éire in Irish?
Éire is said like “AY-ruh” (IPA /ˈeːɾʲə/).
Does Éire have a plural?
No. Éire is a name, so it is used in the singular only.
Why do I see Éirinn instead of Éire?
Éirinn is the old dative form, used after most prepositions: in Éirinn (in Ireland), go hÉirinn (to Ireland), as Éirinn (from Ireland). Éire is used as subject or object, e.g. Is tír álainn í Éire.
How do I say 'Irish' as an adjective?
Use the genitive na hÉireann for things belonging to the country, as in rialtas na hÉireann (the Irish government), or the adjective Éireannach, as in bia Éireannach (Irish food).
What is the difference between Éire, Éirinn and Éireann?
Éire is the plain form (Is oileán í Éire). Éirinn is used after prepositions: in Éirinn, go hÉirinn. na hÉireann is the genitive, “of Ireland”: muintir na hÉireann, Rialtas na hÉireann; official names often drop na: Dáil Éireann, Bus Éireann.
How do you say “in Ireland” in Irish?
in Éirinn. Éire keeps an old dative form after prepositions, and i becomes in before a vowel.
