HeyRuaHow to say “patience” in Irish
- Irish:
- foighne
- English:
- patience
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “FYE-nyuh” /ˈfˠəinʲə/
- Genitive singular:
- foighne, na foighne (e.g. easpa foighne, lack of patience)
What does “foighne” mean?
- patience
- The ability to wait calmly or put up with delay, trouble or annoyance without getting upset.Also: forbearance, endurance, tolerance.
“Foighne” with the article
Here is foighne after the article (an t-alt).
“Foighne” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using foighne, the Irish word for patience.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Patience in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for patience?
The Irish for patience is foighne (pronounced “FYE-nyuh”). It’s a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce foighne in Irish?
Foighne is said like “FYE-nyuh” (IPA /ˈfˠəinʲə/).
Does foighne have a plural?
No plural form is given for foighne in the standard. Many abstract and mass nouns in Irish have no plural.
Why does foighne change to fhoighne or bhfoighne?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) foighne becomes m'fhoighne (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár bhfoighne (eclipsis).
How do I say 'I have no patience' in Irish?
Say 'Níl aon fhoighne agam', using the 'ag' construction for possession; 'impatience' is 'mífhoighne'.
What is the proverb about patience?
A well-known one is 'Is fearr an fhoighne ná an t-ór', meaning patience is better than gold. The adjective 'patient' is 'foighneach'.
