HeyRuaHow to say “pair” in Irish
- Irish:
- péire
- English:
- pair, couple
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “PAY-ruh” /ˈpʲeːɾʲə/
- Plural:
- péirí (pairs)
- Genitive singular:
- péire, an phéire (e.g. praghas an phéire, the price of the pair)
- Genitive plural:
- péirí, na bpéirí (e.g. líon na bpéirí, the number of pairs)
What does “péire” mean?
“Péire” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- pair
- Two things of the same kind that go together or are used together, such as shoes or socks.Also: couple, two, set of two.
1 other meaning: couple
- 2couple
- Two people or animals considered together, such as a married couple or a pair of horses.Also: pair, twosome.
Other Irish words for pair: dís (pair), meaitseáil (match)
“Péire” with the article
The plural of pair in Irish is péirí. Here is péire after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Péire” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using péire, the Irish word for pair.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Pair in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for pair?
The Irish for pair is péire (pronounced “PAY-ruh”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is péirí. Depending on context it can also mean couple.
How do you pronounce péire in Irish?
Péire is said like “PAY-ruh” (IPA /ˈpʲeːɾʲə/).
What is the plural of pair in Irish?
The plural of péire is péirí; with the article, na péirí means “the pairs”. The genitive plural is péirí, as in líon na bpéirí (the number of pairs).
Does péire have more than one meaning?
Yes. Péire can mean pair or couple, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does péire change to phéire or bpéire?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) péire becomes mo phéire (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár bpéire (eclipsis).
What is the difference between péire, cúpla and beirt?
Péire is a pair of matching things (péire bróg), beirt is used for counting two people (beirt pháistí), and cúpla means a couple or a few, or twins.
What case follows péire?
The noun after péire is in the genitive plural, as in péire bróg or péire stocaí.
