HeyRuaHow to say “lady” in Irish
- Irish:
- bantiarna
- English:
- lady, landlady, our lady
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “BAN-teer-nuh” /ˈbˠanˠˌtʲiəɾˠnˠə/
- Plural:
- bantiarnaí (ladies)
- Genitive singular:
- bantiarna, na bantiarna (e.g. teach na bantiarna, the lady's house)
- Genitive plural:
- bantiarnaí, na mbantiarnaí (e.g. cúirt na mbantiarnaí, the court of the ladies)
What does “bantiarna” mean?
“Bantiarna” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- lady
- A woman of noble rank or high social position, or a woman who has authority over others.Also: noblewoman, peeress, mistress.
2 other meanings: landlady or our lady
- 2landlady
- A woman who owns land or property that others rent, used in the phrase bantiarna talún.Also: female landlord, proprietress.
- 3our lady
- In the phrase Ár mBantiarna, the Virgin Mary.Also: Virgin Mary, madonna.
Other Irish words for lady: bean (woman)
“Bantiarna” with the article
The plural of lady in Irish is bantiarnaí. Here is bantiarna after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Bantiarna” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using bantiarna, the Irish word for lady.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Lady in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for lady?
The Irish for lady is bantiarna (pronounced “BAN-teer-nuh”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is bantiarnaí. Depending on context it can also mean landlady or our lady.
How do you pronounce bantiarna in Irish?
Bantiarna is said like “BAN-teer-nuh” (IPA /ˈbˠanˠˌtʲiəɾˠnˠə/).
What is the plural of lady in Irish?
The plural of bantiarna is bantiarnaí; with the article, na bantiarnaí means “the ladies”. The genitive plural is bantiarnaí, as in cúirt na mbantiarnaí (the court of the ladies).
Does bantiarna have more than one meaning?
Yes. Bantiarna can mean lady, landlady or our lady, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does bantiarna change to bhantiarna or mbantiarna?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) bantiarna becomes mo bhantiarna (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár mbantiarna (eclipsis).
Is bantiarna the everyday word for 'lady' as in a polite woman?
No, bantiarna refers to a woman of rank or authority; for a polite term for a woman you would usually say bean uasal.
How is bantiarna related to tiarna?
It is formed from ban- (woman) and tiarna (lord), so it is the female counterpart, a lady or peeress.
