HeyRuaHow to say “mother country” in Irish
- Irish:
- máthairthír
- English:
- mother country
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, second declension
- Pronunciation:
- “MAW-hir-heer” /ˈmˠaːhəɾʲˌhiːɾʲ/
- Plural:
- máthairthíortha (mother countries)
- Genitive singular:
- máthairthíre, na máthairthíre (e.g. teanga na máthairthíre, the language of the mother country)
- Genitive plural:
- máthairthíortha, na máthairthíortha (e.g. muintir na máthairthíortha, the people of the mother countries)
What does “máthairthír” mean?
- mother country
- The country a person or their ancestors come from, or the country that founded a colony.Also: motherland, homeland, native land.
“Máthairthír” with the article
The plural of mother country in Irish is máthairthíortha. Here is máthairthír after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Máthairthír” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using máthairthír, the Irish word for mother country.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Mother country in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for mother country?
The Irish for mother country is máthairthír (pronounced “MAW-hir-heer”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is máthairthíortha.
How do you pronounce máthairthír in Irish?
Máthairthír is said like “MAW-hir-heer” (IPA /ˈmˠaːhəɾʲˌhiːɾʲ/).
What is the plural of mother country in Irish?
The plural of máthairthír is máthairthíortha; with the article, na máthairthíortha means “the mother countries”. The genitive plural is máthairthíortha, as in muintir na máthairthíortha (the people of the mother countries).
Why does máthairthír change to mháthairthír?
After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo mháthairthír. After ár (our) it stays ár máthairthír, because m does not take eclipsis.
Is there a more everyday word for homeland?
Yes, people often say 'tír dhúchais' for native land, while 'máthairthír' is more formal and often used about colonies.
