HeyRuaHow to say “otter” in Irish
- Irish:
- dobharchú
- English:
- otter
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “DOW-ur-khoo” /ˈd̪ˠoːɾˠˌxuː/
- Plural:
- dobharchúnna (otters)
- Genitive singular:
- dobharchú, an dobharchú (e.g. poll an dobharchú, the otter's den)
- Genitive plural:
- dobharchúnna, na ndobharchúnna (e.g. líon na ndobharchúnna, the number of otters)
What does “dobharchú” mean?
- otter
- A furry animal with webbed feet that lives near rivers, lakes and the sea and eats fish.Also: river otter, water dog.
Other Irish words for otter: dobhrán (otter)
“Dobharchú” with the article
The plural of otter in Irish is dobharchúnna. Here is dobharchú after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Dobharchú” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using dobharchú, the Irish word for otter.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Otter in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for otter?
The Irish for otter is dobharchú (pronounced “DOW-ur-khoo”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is dobharchúnna.
How do you pronounce dobharchú in Irish?
Dobharchú is said like “DOW-ur-khoo” (IPA /ˈd̪ˠoːɾˠˌxuː/).
What is the plural of otter in Irish?
The plural of dobharchú is dobharchúnna; with the article, na dobharchúnna means “the otters”. The genitive plural is dobharchúnna, as in líon na ndobharchúnna (the number of otters).
Why does dobharchú change to dhobharchú or ndobharchú?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) dobharchú becomes mo dhobharchú (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár ndobharchú (eclipsis).
Is there another Irish word for otter?
Yes, 'madra uisce' (literally water dog) is very common in speech, while 'dobharchú' is the more formal or literary word.
What does 'dobharchú' literally mean?
It comes from 'dobhar' (water, an old word) and 'cú' (hound), so it means water hound.
