HeyRuaHow to say “male” in Irish
- Irish:
- fireann
- English:
- male, masculine, manly
- Word type:
- adjective
- More male:
- níos firinne
- Most male:
- is firinne
- Plural:
- fireanna
- Pronunciation:
- “FIR-un” /ˈfʲiɾʲən̪ˠ/
What does “fireann” mean?
“Fireann” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- male
- Of the sex that does not bear young, used of people, animals and plants.Also: he-, bull.
2 other meanings: masculine or manly
- 2masculine
- Belonging to the masculine gender in grammar.Also: masculine gender.
- 3manly
- Having qualities thought typical of a man, such as strength.Also: virile.
Other Irish adjectives for male: fireannach (male)
“Fireann” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is fireann after ainmní (subject, masculine), after foireann (team, feminine) and after a plural.
séimhiú (the h) the ending
After a feminine noun the adjective gets a séimhiú, an h after its first letter: foireann fhireann. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: ainmní fireann.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, fireanna. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: foirne fireanna.
More male, most male, very male
| more male | níos firinne | in the past tense: ní b'fhirinne |
|---|---|---|
| most male | is firinne | in the past tense: ab fhirinne |
| as male as | chomh fireann le | no change after chomh |
| very male | an-fhireann | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too male | rófhireann | ró- lenites |
“Fireann” in a sentence: Irish examples
With a masculine noun, a feminine noun, a plural, a comparison and on its own.
Other adjectives in Irish
More everyday Irish adjectives to learn next.
Male in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for male?
The Irish for male is fireann (pronounced “FIR-un”). It comes after the noun: ainmní fireann, a male subject; foireann fhireann, a male team.
How do you say more male and most male in Irish?
níos firinne is more male and is firinne is most male. In the past tense they become ní b'fhirinne and ab fhirinne.
Why does fireann become fhireann?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So foireann fhireann (a male team) but ainmní fireann (a male subject), because ainmní is masculine.
What is the plural of fireann?
With a plural noun fireann becomes fireanna: ainmnithe fireanna, foirne fireanna.
How do you say very male in Irish?
an-fhireann. Too male is rófhireann, and as male as is chomh fireann le.
Does fireann have more than one meaning?
Yes. Fireann can mean male, masculine or manly, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the opposite of fireann?
The opposite is baineann, female or feminine, as in inscne bhaineann, feminine gender.
Is fireann the same as fearúil?
No: fireann states sex or grammatical gender, while fearúil means manly in character.
