HeyRuaHow to say “mountain” in Irish
- Irish:
- sliabh
- English:
- mountain, moor
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, second declension
- Pronunciation:
- “shleev” /ʃlʲiəvˠ/
- Plural:
- sléibhte (mountains)
- Genitive singular:
- sléibhe, an tsléibhe (e.g. barr an tsléibhe, the top of the mountain)
- Genitive plural:
- sléibhte, na sléibhte (e.g. ag siúl na sléibhte, walking the mountains)
What does “sliabh” mean?
“Sliabh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- mountain
- A very high hill or large mass of land rising well above the surrounding country.Also: mount, peak, mountain range.
1 other meaning: moor
- 2moor
- An area of high, open, uncultivated land, often boggy and covered in heather.Also: moorland, upland, heath.
“Sliabh” with the article
The plural of mountain in Irish is sléibhte. Here is sliabh after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Sliabh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using sliabh, the Irish word for mountain.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Mountain in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for mountain?
The Irish for mountain is sliabh (pronounced “shleev”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is sléibhte. Depending on context it can also mean moor.
How do you pronounce sliabh in Irish?
Sliabh is said like “shleev” (IPA /ʃlʲiəvˠ/).
What is the plural of mountain in Irish?
The plural of sliabh is sléibhte; with the article, na sléibhte means “the mountains”. The genitive plural is sléibhte, as in ag siúl na sléibhte (walking the mountains).
Does sliabh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Sliabh can mean mountain or moor, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does sliabh change to shliabh?
After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo shliabh. After ár (our) it stays ár sliabh, because s does not take eclipsis.
What is the difference between 'sliabh' and 'cnoc'?
'Sliabh' is a mountain or high moorland, while 'cnoc' is usually a hill, though place names do not always follow this strictly.
Why do so many place names begin with 'Slieve'?
'Slieve' is the anglicised form of 'sliabh', as in Sliabh Dónairt (Slieve Donard).
