Mother tongue in Irish (Máthairtheanga): Meaning

Q: What is the Irish for mother tongue?

The Irish for mother tongue is máthairtheanga (pronounced “MAW-hir-hyang-uh”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is máthairtheangacha.

Q: What is the plural of mother tongue in Irish?

The plural of máthairtheanga is máthairtheangacha; with the article, na máthairtheangacha means “the mother tongues”. The genitive plural is máthairtheangacha, as in cearta na máthairtheangacha (the rights of mother tongues).

How to say “mother tongue” in Irish

Irish:: máthairtheanga
English:: mother tongue
Word type:: noun
Gender:: feminine, fourth declension
Pronunciation:: “MAW-hir-hyang-uh” /ˈmˠaːhəɾʲˌhʲaŋɡə/

Various forms

Plural:: máthairtheangacha (mother tongues)
Genitive singular:: máthairtheanga, na máthairtheanga (e.g. labhairt na máthairtheanga, speaking the mother tongue)
Genitive plural:: máthairtheangacha, na máthairtheangacha (e.g. cearta na máthairtheangacha, the rights of mother tongues)

What does “máthairtheanga” mean?

mother tongue: The first language a person learns as a child, usually at home.Also: native language, first language, native tongue.

“Máthairtheanga” with the article

The plural of mother tongue in Irish is máthairtheangacha. Here is máthairtheanga after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.

an mháthairtheanga

the mother tongue

Lenition: m becomes mh after an (feminine noun)

na máthairtheangacha

the mother tongues

Plural: no change after na

“Máthairtheanga” in a sentence: Irish examples

Common Irish sentences using máthairtheanga, the Irish word for mother tongue.

Is í an Ghaeilge mo mháthairtheanga.

Irish is my mother tongue.

Cén mháthairtheanga atá agat?

What is your mother tongue?

Is í an Pholainnis máthairtheanga a muintire.

Polish is her family's mother tongue.

Labhraítear go leor máthairtheangacha sa scoil seo.

Many mother tongues are spoken in this school.

Tá sé tábhachtach do mháthairtheanga a labhairt sa bhaile.

It's important to speak your mother tongue at home.

Scríobh sí an dán ina máthairtheanga féin.

She wrote the poem in her own mother tongue.

Bíonn blas na máthairtheanga ar a cuid Béarla.

Her English has the accent of her mother tongue.

Other nouns in Irish

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Mother tongue in Irish: frequently asked questions

What is the Irish for mother tongue?

The Irish for mother tongue is máthairtheanga (pronounced “MAW-hir-hyang-uh”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is máthairtheangacha.

How do you pronounce máthairtheanga in Irish?

Máthairtheanga is said like “MAW-hir-hyang-uh” (IPA /ˈmˠaːhəɾʲˌhʲaŋɡə/).

What is the plural of mother tongue in Irish?

The plural of máthairtheanga is máthairtheangacha; with the article, na máthairtheangacha means “the mother tongues”. The genitive plural is máthairtheangacha, as in cearta na máthairtheangacha (the rights of mother tongues).

Why does máthairtheanga change to mháthairtheanga?

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

How do I say someone is a native speaker in Irish?

Say 'cainteoir dúchais' for a native speaker; 'máthairtheanga' refers to the language itself, as in 'Is í an Ghaeilge a mháthairtheanga'.

Mother tongue in Irish (Máthairtheanga): Meaning, Pronunciation, Usage