Monastery in Irish (Mainistir): Meaning & Pronunciation

Q: What is the Irish for monastery?

The Irish for monastery is mainistir (pronounced “MAN-ish-tir”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is mainistreacha.

Q: What is the plural of monastery in Irish?

The plural of mainistir is mainistreacha; with the article, na mainistreacha means “the monasteries”. The genitive plural is mainistreacha, as in stair na mainistreacha (the history of the monasteries).

How to say “monastery” in Irish

Irish:: mainistir
English:: monastery
Word type:: noun
Gender:: feminine, fifth declension
Pronunciation:: “MAN-ish-tir” /ˈmˠanʲɪʃtʲəɾʲ/

Various forms

Plural:: mainistreacha (monasteries)
Genitive singular:: mainistreach, na mainistreach (e.g. fothrach na mainistreach, the ruin of the monastery)
Genitive plural:: mainistreacha, na mainistreacha (e.g. stair na mainistreacha, the history of the monasteries)

What does “mainistir” mean?

monastery: A building or group of buildings where monks or nuns live and pray together.Also: abbey, friary, convent, priory.

“Mainistir” with the article

The plural of monastery in Irish is mainistreacha. Here is mainistir after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.

an mhainistir

the monastery

Lenition: m becomes mh after an (feminine noun)

na mainistreacha

the monasteries

Plural: no change after na

“Mainistir” in a sentence: Irish examples

Common Irish sentences using mainistir, the Irish word for monastery.

Tá mainistir álainn cois na habhann.

There is a beautiful monastery beside the river.

Thugamar cuairt ar an mainistir inné.

We visited the abbey yesterday.

Bhí ballaí na mainistreach an-ard.

The walls of the monastery were very high.

Scriosadh go leor mainistreacha sa séú haois déag.

Many monasteries were destroyed in the sixteenth century.

Chónaigh na manaigh sa mhainistir ar feadh na mblianta.

The monks lived in the monastery for years.

Chuaigh m'uncail isteach i mainistir nuair a bhí sé óg.

My uncle entered a monastery when he was young.

Is iontach na mainistreacha atá le feiceáil in Éirinn.

The monasteries you can see in Ireland are wonderful.

Other nouns in Irish

More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.

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Monastery in Irish: frequently asked questions

What is the Irish for monastery?

The Irish for monastery is mainistir (pronounced “MAN-ish-tir”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is mainistreacha.

How do you pronounce mainistir in Irish?

Mainistir is said like “MAN-ish-tir” (IPA /ˈmˠanʲɪʃtʲəɾʲ/).

What is the plural of monastery in Irish?

The plural of mainistir is mainistreacha; with the article, na mainistreacha means “the monasteries”. The genitive plural is mainistreacha, as in stair na mainistreacha (the history of the monasteries).

Why does mainistir change to mhainistir?

After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo mhainistir. After ár (our) it stays ár mainistir, because m does not take eclipsis.

What is the difference between 'mainistir' and 'clochar'?

'Mainistir' is a monastery or abbey, usually of monks or friars, while 'clochar' usually means a convent of nuns.

Monastery in Irish (Mainistir): Meaning, Pronunciation, Usage