HeyRuaHow to say “nurse” in Irish
- Irish:
- banaltra
- English:
- nurse, nursemaid
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “BAN-uhl-truh” /ˈbˠanˠəl̪ˠt̪ˠɾˠə/
- Plural:
- banaltraí (nurses)
- Genitive singular:
- banaltra, na banaltra (e.g. éide na banaltra, the nurse's uniform)
- Genitive plural:
- banaltraí, na mbanaltraí (e.g. tuarastal banaltraí, nurses' pay)
What does “banaltra” mean?
“Banaltra” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- nurse
- A person trained to care for sick or injured people, especially in a hospital.Also: hospital nurse, nursing staff, carer.
1 other meaning: nursemaid
- 2nursemaid
- A woman employed to look after young children; also, in older use, a wet nurse.Also: nanny, wet nurse.
“Banaltra” with the article
The plural of nurse in Irish is banaltraí. Here is banaltra after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Banaltra” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using banaltra, the Irish word for nurse.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Nurse in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for nurse?
The Irish for nurse is banaltra (pronounced “BAN-uhl-truh”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is banaltraí. Depending on context it can also mean nursemaid.
How do you pronounce banaltra in Irish?
Banaltra is said like “BAN-uhl-truh” (IPA /ˈbˠanˠəl̪ˠt̪ˠɾˠə/).
What is the plural of nurse in Irish?
The plural of banaltra is banaltraí; with the article, na banaltraí means “the nurses”. The genitive plural is banaltraí, as in tuarastal banaltraí (nurses' pay).
Does banaltra have more than one meaning?
Yes. Banaltra can mean nurse or nursemaid, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does banaltra change to bhanaltra or mbanaltra?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) banaltra becomes mo bhanaltra (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár mbanaltra (eclipsis).
What is the difference between 'banaltra' and 'altra'?
Both mean nurse, but 'altra' is the modern gender-neutral term used officially, while 'banaltra' literally contains 'ban-' (woman) and is the traditional everyday word.
How do I say 'nursing' as a profession?
The profession is 'altranas', for example 'Tá sí ag staidéar altranais' (She is studying nursing).
