HeyRuaHow to say “pencil” in Irish
- Irish:
- pionsail
- English:
- pencil
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “PIN-sil” /ˈpʲɪnˠsˠəlʲ/
- Plural:
- pionsailí (pencils)
- Genitive singular:
- pionsail, an phionsail (e.g. barr an phionsail, the tip of the pencil)
- Genitive plural:
- pionsailí, na bpionsailí (e.g. bosca na bpionsailí, the pencil box)
What does “pionsail” mean?
- pencil
- A thin wooden or plastic tool with a core of graphite or colour, used for writing or drawing.Also: lead pencil, writing pencil.
“Pionsail” with the article
The plural of pencil in Irish is pionsailí. Here is pionsail after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Pionsail” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using pionsail, the Irish word for pencil.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Pencil in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for pencil?
The Irish for pencil is pionsail (pronounced “PIN-sil”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is pionsailí.
How do you pronounce pionsail in Irish?
Pionsail is said like “PIN-sil” (IPA /ˈpʲɪnˠsˠəlʲ/).
What is the plural of pencil in Irish?
The plural of pionsail is pionsailí; with the article, na pionsailí means “the pencils”. The genitive plural is pionsailí, as in bosca na bpionsailí (the pencil box).
Why does pionsail change to phionsail or bpionsail?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) pionsail becomes mo phionsail (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár bpionsail (eclipsis).
What is the difference between 'pionsail' and 'peann'?
A 'pionsail' is a pencil, while a 'peann' is a pen that writes in ink. A ballpoint pen is 'peann gránbhiorach'.
