HeyRuaHow to say “knoll” in Irish
- Irish:
- maoil
- English:
- knoll, bald top, heaped measure
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, second declension
- Pronunciation:
- “mweel” /mˠiːlʲ/
- Plural:
- maoileanna (knolls)
- Genitive singular:
- maoile, na maoile (e.g. barr na maoile, the top of the knoll)
- Genitive plural:
- maoileanna, na maoileanna (e.g. barr na maoileanna, the top of the knolls)
What does “maoil” mean?
“Maoil” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- knoll
- A rounded hilltop or small bare hill.Also: hillock, rounded summit, hilltop.
2 other meanings: bald top or heaped measure
- 2bald top
- A bare or bald top, such as a bald patch on the head.Also: bald spot, bald patch, crown.
- 3heaped measure
- The amount of something heaped up above the rim of a container.Also: heap, overflow, topping.
Other Irish words for knoll: cnocán (hillock)
“Maoil” with the article
The plural of knoll in Irish is maoileanna. Here is maoil after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Maoil” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using maoil, the Irish word for knoll.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Knoll in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for knoll?
The Irish for knoll is maoil (pronounced “mweel”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is maoileanna. Depending on context it can also mean bald top or heaped measure.
How do you pronounce maoil in Irish?
Maoil is said like “mweel” (IPA /mˠiːlʲ/).
What is the plural of knoll in Irish?
The plural of maoil is maoileanna; with the article, na maoileanna means “the knolls”. The genitive plural is maoileanna, as in barr na maoileanna (the top of the knolls).
Does maoil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Maoil can mean knoll, bald top or heaped measure, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does maoil change to mhaoil?
After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo mhaoil. After ár (our) it stays ár maoil, because m does not take eclipsis.
What does 'lán go maoil' mean?
It means heaped full, filled above the brim: 'Bhí an mála lán go maoil', the bag was full to overflowing.
