HeyRuaHow to say “little cow” in Irish
- Irish:
- bóín
- English:
- little cow
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “boh-EEN” /bˠoːˈiːnʲ/
- Plural:
- bóíní (little cows)
- Genitive singular:
- bóín, na bóín (e.g. eireaball na bóín, the little cow's tail)
- Genitive plural:
- bóíní, na mbóíní (e.g. ag tabhairt aire do bhóíní, looking after little cows)
What does “bóín” mean?
- little cow
- A small cow or a young cow, often used affectionately.Also: small cow, cow, heifer.
“Bóín” with the article
The plural of little cow in Irish is bóíní. Here is bóín after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Bóín” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using bóín, the Irish word for little cow.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Little cow in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for little cow?
The Irish for little cow is bóín (pronounced “boh-EEN”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is bóíní.
How do you pronounce bóín in Irish?
Bóín is said like “boh-EEN” (IPA /bˠoːˈiːnʲ/).
What is the plural of little cow in Irish?
The plural of bóín is bóíní; with the article, na bóíní means “the little cows”. The genitive plural is bóíní, as in ag tabhairt aire do bhóíní (looking after little cows).
Why does bóín change to bhóín or mbóín?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) bóín becomes mo bhóín (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár mbóín (eclipsis).
What does 'bóín Dé' mean?
'Bóín Dé', literally 'God's little cow', is the Irish name for the ladybird.
How is 'bóín' related to 'bó'?
'Bóín' is the diminutive of 'bó' (cow), formed with the suffix -ín, and it is often used affectionately.
