HeyRuaHow to say “leader” in Irish
- Irish:
- ceannaire
- English:
- leader, corporal
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “KYAN-uh-ruh” /ˈcan̪ˠəɾʲə/
- Plural:
- ceannairí (leaders)
- Genitive singular:
- ceannaire, an cheannaire (e.g. óráid an cheannaire, the leader's speech)
- Genitive plural:
- ceannairí, na gceannairí (e.g. cruinniú na gceannairí, the leaders' meeting)
What does “ceannaire” mean?
“Ceannaire” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- leader
- A person who leads or heads a group, organisation, party or country.Also: head, chief, commander.
1 other meaning: corporal
- 2corporal
- A non-commissioned officer in the army ranking above a private.Also: non-commissioned officer.
Other Irish words for leader: taoiseach (chieftain)
“Ceannaire” with the article
The plural of leader in Irish is ceannairí. Here is ceannaire after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Ceannaire” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using ceannaire, the Irish word for leader.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Leader in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for leader?
The Irish for leader is ceannaire (pronounced “KYAN-uh-ruh”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is ceannairí. Depending on context it can also mean corporal.
How do you pronounce ceannaire in Irish?
Ceannaire is said like “KYAN-uh-ruh” (IPA /ˈcan̪ˠəɾʲə/).
What is the plural of leader in Irish?
The plural of ceannaire is ceannairí; with the article, na ceannairí means “the leaders”. The genitive plural is ceannairí, as in cruinniú na gceannairí (the leaders' meeting).
Does ceannaire have more than one meaning?
Yes. Ceannaire can mean leader or corporal, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does ceannaire change to cheannaire or gceannaire?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) ceannaire becomes mo cheannaire (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár gceannaire (eclipsis).
How do I say someone is 'the leader of' something?
Use 'ceannaire ar': 'Is ceannaire ar an bpáirtí í', she is leader of the party. The genitive is also used, as in 'ceannaire an pháirtí'.
What is the difference between 'ceannaire' and 'ceannasaí'?
'Ceannaire' is the general word for a leader, while 'ceannasaí' usually means a commander or person in command, often in a military context.
