HeyRuaHow to say “kid” in Irish
- Irish:
- meannán
- English:
- kid
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “MAN-awn” /ˈmʲanˠɑːnˠ/
- Plural:
- meannáin (kids)
- Genitive singular:
- meannáin, an mheannáin (e.g. cosa an mheannáin, the kid's legs)
- Genitive plural:
- meannán, na meannán (e.g. máthair na meannán, the mother of the kids)
What does “meannán” mean?
- kid
- A young goat.Also: young goat, baby goat.
Other Irish words for kid: páiste (child)
“Meannán” with the article
The plural of kid in Irish is meannáin. Here is meannán after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Meannán” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using meannán, the Irish word for kid.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Kid in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for kid?
The Irish for kid is meannán (pronounced “MAN-awn”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is meannáin.
How do you pronounce meannán in Irish?
Meannán is said like “MAN-awn” (IPA /ˈmʲanˠɑːnˠ/).
What is the plural of kid in Irish?
The plural of meannán is meannáin; with the article, na meannáin means “the kids”. The genitive plural is meannán, as in máthair na meannán (the mother of the kids).
Why does meannán change to mheannán?
After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo mheannán. After ár (our) it stays ár meannán, because m does not take eclipsis.
What is the difference between 'meannán' and 'gabhar'?
'Gabhar' is a goat in general, while 'meannán' is specifically a young goat, a kid. A male goat is 'pocán' or 'poc', and a female goat is 'minseach'.
Can 'meannán' mean a child, like English 'kid'?
No, 'meannán' only means a young goat. For a child use 'páiste' or 'leanbh'. Note also 'meannán aerach', which is the bird called the snipe.
