HeyRuaHow to say “marten” in Irish
- Irish:
- mártan
- English:
- marten
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine
- Pronunciation:
- “MAWR-tun” /ˈmˠaːɾˠt̪ˠən̪ˠ/
- Plural:
- mártain (martens)
- Genitive singular:
- mártain, an mhártain (e.g. fionnadh an mhártain, the marten's fur)
- Genitive plural:
- mártan, na mártan (e.g. gnáthóg na mártan, the habitat of the martens)
What does “mártan” mean?
- marten
- A small, slender, tree-climbing wild animal with brown fur and a bushy tail, related to the weasel; in Ireland, the pine marten.Also: pine marten, marten cat.
“Mártan” with the article
The plural of marten in Irish is mártain. Here is mártan after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Mártan” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using mártan, the Irish word for marten.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Marten in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for marten?
The Irish for marten is mártan (pronounced “MAWR-tun”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is mártain.
How do you pronounce mártan in Irish?
Mártan is said like “MAWR-tun” (IPA /ˈmˠaːɾˠt̪ˠən̪ˠ/).
What is the plural of marten in Irish?
The plural of mártan is mártain; with the article, na mártain means “the martens”. The genitive plural is mártan, as in gnáthóg na mártan (the habitat of the martens).
Why does mártan change to mhártan?
After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo mhártan. After ár (our) it stays ár mártan, because m does not take eclipsis.
Is there another Irish name for the pine marten?
Yes, it is very commonly called 'cat crainn' (literally 'tree cat'), and 'mártan' is the more formal or zoological name.
