HeyRuaHow to say “paraffin” in Irish
- Irish:
- pairifín
- English:
- paraffin
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “PAR-ih-feen” /ˈpaɾʲəfʲiːnʲ/
Various forms
- Genitive singular:
- pairifín, an phairifín (e.g. boladh an phairifín, the smell of the paraffin)
What does “pairifín” mean?
- paraffin
- A fuel oil or waxy substance obtained from petroleum, used in lamps, heaters and candles.Also: kerosene, paraffin oil, paraffin wax, lamp oil.
“Pairifín” with the article
Here is pairifín after the article (an t-alt).
an pairifín
the paraffin
No change after an
“Pairifín” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using pairifín, the Irish word for paraffin.
Bhí boladh pairifín ar fud an tí.
There was a smell of paraffin all through the house.
Cuir pairifín sa lampa roimh an oíche.
Put paraffin in the lamp before night.
Tá an pairifín ag éirí daor anois.
Paraffin is getting expensive now.
Cheannaigh m'athair canna pairifín sa siopa.
My father bought a can of paraffin in the shop.
Bhí téitheoir pairifín againn sa chistin fadó.
We had a paraffin heater in the kitchen long ago.
Ná fág an pairifín in aice leis an tine.
Don't leave the paraffin beside the fire.
Rinneadh na coinnle as céir phairifín.
The candles were made from paraffin wax.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Paraffin in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for paraffin?
The Irish for paraffin is pairifín (pronounced “PAR-ih-feen”). It’s a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce pairifín in Irish?
Pairifín is said like “PAR-ih-feen” (IPA /ˈpaɾʲəfʲiːnʲ/).
Does pairifín have a plural?
No plural form is given for pairifín in the standard. Many abstract and mass nouns in Irish have no plural.
Why does pairifín change to phairifín or bpairifín?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) pairifín becomes mo phairifín (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár bpairifín (eclipsis).
Is 'pairifín' the same as kerosene?
In everyday Irish and Irish English, pairifín is the usual word for the lamp and heater fuel Americans call kerosene; the technical word ceirisín also exists.
