HeyRuaHow to say “old man” in Irish
- Irish:
- seanfhear
- English:
- old man, father
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine
- Pronunciation:
- “SHAN-ar” /ˈʃanˠaɾˠ/
- Plural:
- seanfhir (old men)
- Genitive singular:
- seanfhir, an tseanfhir (e.g. teach an tseanfhir, the old man's house)
- Genitive plural:
- seanfhear, na seanfhear (e.g. scéalta na seanfhear, the old men's stories)
What does “seanfhear” mean?
“Seanfhear” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- old man
- A man who is old or elderly.Also: elderly man, old fellow, greybeard.
1 other meaning: father
- 2father
- Informally, a person's father, like English 'the old man'.Also: old man, dad.
Other Irish words for old man: seanduine (old person)
“Seanfhear” with the article
The plural of old man in Irish is seanfhir. Here is seanfhear after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Seanfhear” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using seanfhear, the Irish word for old man.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Old man in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for old man?
The Irish for old man is seanfhear (pronounced “SHAN-ar”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is seanfhir. Depending on context it can also mean father.
How do you pronounce seanfhear in Irish?
Seanfhear is said like “SHAN-ar” (IPA /ˈʃanˠaɾˠ/).
What is the plural of old man in Irish?
The plural of seanfhear is seanfhir; with the article, na seanfhir means “the old men”. The genitive plural is seanfhear, as in scéalta na seanfhear (the old men's stories).
Does seanfhear have more than one meaning?
Yes. Seanfhear can mean old man or father, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does seanfhear change to sheanfhear?
After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo sheanfhear. After ár (our) it stays ár seanfhear, because s does not take eclipsis.
What is the female equivalent of 'seanfhear'?
The female equivalent is 'seanbhean', old woman. Both are formed with the prefix 'sean-' which lenites the following noun.
Is 'seanfhear' polite for an elderly man?
It is neutral, but 'seanóir' is a more respectful word for an elder or senior citizen.
