HeyRuaHow to say “mainland” in Irish
- Irish:
- mórthír
- English:
- mainland, continent
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, second declension
- Pronunciation:
- “MOR-heer” /ˈmˠoːɾˌhiːɾʲ/
- Plural:
- mórthíortha (mainlands)
- Genitive singular:
- mórthíre, na mórthíre (e.g. muintir na mórthíre, the people of the mainland)
- Genitive plural:
- mórthíortha, na mórthíortha (e.g. léarscáil na mórthíortha, the map of the continents)
What does “mórthír” mean?
“Mórthír” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- mainland
- The main landmass of a country or region, as opposed to its islands.Also: main land.
1 other meaning: continent
- 2continent
- A large continuous mass of land, such as the European continent.Also: landmass.
“Mórthír” with the article
The plural of mainland in Irish is mórthíortha. Here is mórthír after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Mórthír” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using mórthír, the Irish word for mainland.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Mainland in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for mainland?
The Irish for mainland is mórthír (pronounced “MOR-heer”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is mórthíortha. Depending on context it can also mean continent.
How do you pronounce mórthír in Irish?
Mórthír is said like “MOR-heer” (IPA /ˈmˠoːɾˌhiːɾʲ/).
What is the plural of mainland in Irish?
The plural of mórthír is mórthíortha; with the article, na mórthíortha means “the mainlands”. The genitive plural is mórthíortha, as in léarscáil na mórthíortha (the map of the continents).
Does mórthír have more than one meaning?
Yes. Mórthír can mean mainland or continent, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does mórthír change to mhórthír?
After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo mhórthír. After ár (our) it stays ár mórthír, because m does not take eclipsis.
What is the difference between 'mórthír' and 'ilchríoch'?
'Mórthír' usually means the mainland as opposed to islands, while 'ilchríoch' is the standard term for a continent like Asia. 'Mórthír na hEorpa' is often used for continental Europe.
