HeyRuaHow to say “it” in Irish
- Irish:
- ea
- English:
- it
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine
- Pronunciation:
- “ah” /a/
Various forms
- Genitive singular:
- ea, an ea (e.g. úsáid an fhocail 'ea', the use of the word 'ea')
What does “ea” mean?
- it
- A neuter pronoun used with the copula 'is' to refer back to a noun, adjective or whole idea, as in 'is ea' (yes, it is) and 'nach ea?' (isn't it?).Also: yes, it is, isn't it, so.
“Ea” with the article
Here is ea after the article (an t-alt).
an t-ea
the it
Masculine nouns take t before a vowel after an
“Ea” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using ea, the Irish word for it.
Bliain fhada ab ea í.
It was a long year.
Duine an-deas is ea é.
He is a very nice person.
An Ceanadach tú? Is ea.
Are you Canadian? Yes.
Amárach an Mháirt, nach ea?
Tomorrow is Tuesday, isn't it?
Dá mhéad é is ea is fearr.
The bigger it is the better.
An múinteoir é? Ní hea.
Is he a teacher? No.
Múinteoir ab ea a hathair.
Her father was a teacher.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
It in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for it?
The Irish for it is ea (pronounced “ah”). It’s a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce ea in Irish?
Ea is said like “ah” (IPA /a/).
Does ea have a plural?
No plural form is given for ea in the standard. Many abstract and mass nouns in Irish have no plural.
Why does ea sometimes have a t or h in front of it?
Irish nouns beginning with a vowel take a prefix after certain words: an t-ea (the it), a hea (her it), a n-ea (their it).
How do I say yes and no using 'ea'?
When the question uses the copula with a noun or adjective, answer 'Is ea' for yes and 'Ní hea' for no, for example 'An dochtúir é? Is ea.'
What does 'is ea' mean in the middle of a sentence?
It is used for emphasis or classification, as in 'Múinteoir is ea í', meaning 'She is a teacher'.
