HeyRuaHow to say “mainland” in Irish
- Irish:
- míntír
- English:
- mainland, arable land
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, second declension
- Pronunciation:
- “MEEN-teer” /ˈmʲiːnʲtʲiːɾʲ/
- Plural:
- míntíortha (mainlands)
- Genitive singular:
- míntíre, na míntíre (e.g. muintir na míntíre, the people of the mainland)
- Genitive plural:
- míntíortha, na míntíortha (e.g. feirmeoirí na míntíortha, the farmers of the lowlands)
What does “míntír” mean?
“Míntír” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- mainland
- The main landmass of a country, as opposed to its islands.Also: continent, main land.
1 other meaning: arable land
- 2arable land
- Level, cultivable land that is good for farming, as opposed to rough or hilly ground.Also: level land, cultivated land, lowland.
Other Irish words for mainland: mórthír (mainland)
“Míntír” with the article
The plural of mainland in Irish is míntíortha. Here is míntír after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Míntír” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using míntír, 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 míntír (pronounced “MEEN-teer”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is míntíortha. Depending on context it can also mean arable land.
How do you pronounce míntír in Irish?
Míntír is said like “MEEN-teer” (IPA /ˈmʲiːnʲtʲiːɾʲ/).
What is the plural of mainland in Irish?
The plural of míntír is míntíortha; with the article, na míntíortha means “the mainlands”. The genitive plural is míntíortha, as in feirmeoirí na míntíortha (the farmers of the lowlands).
Does míntír have more than one meaning?
Yes. Míntír can mean mainland or arable land, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does míntír change to mhíntír?
After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo mhíntír. After ár (our) it stays ár míntír, because m does not take eclipsis.
How do I say 'on the mainland' in Irish?
Say 'ar an míntír'; islanders also often say 'amach ar an míntír' or refer to going 'go tír mór' for the mainland.
Is 'míntír' related to 'mín'?
Yes, it is formed from 'mín' (smooth, level) and 'tír' (land), hence its sense of level, cultivable land.
