HeyRuaHow to say “little flower” in Irish
- Irish:
- plúirín
- English:
- little flower, indigo
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “PLOOR-een” /ˈpl̪ˠuːɾʲiːnʲ/
- Plural:
- plúiríní (little flowers)
- Genitive singular:
- plúirín, an phlúirín (e.g. dath an phlúirín, the colour of the little flower)
- Genitive plural:
- plúiríní, na bplúiríní (e.g. boladh na bplúiríní, the scent of the little flowers)
What does “plúirín” mean?
“Plúirín” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- little flower
- A small flower; also used affectionately for a lovely girl.Also: floweret, pretty girl, darling.
1 other meaning: indigo
- 2indigo
- Indigo or anil, a blue dye, often called 'blue' for laundry.Also: anil, blue dye, washing blue.
“Plúirín” with the article
The plural of little flower in Irish is plúiríní. Here is plúirín after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Plúirín” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using plúirín, the Irish word for little flower.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Little flower in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for little flower?
The Irish for little flower is plúirín (pronounced “PLOOR-een”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is plúiríní. Depending on context it can also mean indigo.
How do you pronounce plúirín in Irish?
Plúirín is said like “PLOOR-een” (IPA /ˈpl̪ˠuːɾʲiːnʲ/).
What is the plural of little flower in Irish?
The plural of plúirín is plúiríní; with the article, na plúiríní means “the little flowers”. The genitive plural is plúiríní, as in boladh na bplúiríní (the scent of the little flowers).
Does plúirín have more than one meaning?
Yes. Plúirín can mean little flower or indigo, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does plúirín change to phlúirín or bplúirín?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) plúirín becomes mo phlúirín (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár bplúirín (eclipsis).
How do you say 'snowdrop' in Irish?
A snowdrop is 'plúirín sneachta', literally 'little flower of snow'.
Is 'plúirín' related to 'plúr'?
Yes, it is a diminutive of 'plúr' in its sense 'flower, best of', as in 'plúr na mban'.
