HeyRuaHow to say “island” in Irish
- Irish:
- inis
- English:
- island, holm
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, second declension
- Pronunciation:
- “IN-ish” /ˈɪnʲɪʃ/
- Plural:
- insí (islands)
- Genitive singular:
- inse, na hinse (e.g. muintir na hinse, the people of the island)
- Genitive plural:
- insí, na n-insí (e.g. oileánaigh na n-insí, the islanders of the isles)
What does “inis” mean?
“Inis” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- island
- A piece of land surrounded by water; mainly literary and common in place names.Also: isle, islet.
1 other meaning: holm
- 2holm
- A low-lying meadow beside a river, often flooded, also called a river meadow.Also: river meadow, water meadow.
Other Irish words for island: oileán (island)
“Inis” with the article
The plural of island in Irish is insí. Here is inis after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Inis” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using inis, the Irish word for island.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Island in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for island?
The Irish for island is inis (pronounced “IN-ish”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is insí. Depending on context it can also mean holm.
How do you pronounce inis in Irish?
Inis is said like “IN-ish” (IPA /ˈɪnʲɪʃ/).
What is the plural of island in Irish?
The plural of inis is insí; with the article, na hinsí means “the islands”. The genitive plural is insí, as in oileánaigh na n-insí (the islanders of the isles).
Does inis have more than one meaning?
Yes. Inis can mean island or holm, depending on context; the first is the most common. Inis also has its own entry as a verb meaning to tell.
Why does inis sometimes have a t or h in front of it?
Irish nouns beginning with a vowel take a prefix after certain words: an inis (the island), a hinis (her island), a n-inis (their island), na hinsí (the islands).
What is the difference between 'inis' and 'oileán'?
'Oileán' is the everyday word for an island, while 'inis' is literary and survives mainly in place names such as Inis Mór and Inis Meáin.
Is the noun 'inis' related to the verb 'inis' (tell)?
No, they are different words that happen to be spelt alike: the imperative 'Inis an fhírinne' means 'Tell the truth' and has nothing to do with islands.
