HeyRuaHow to say “penny” in Irish
- Irish:
- pingin
- English:
- penny, money
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, second declension
- Pronunciation:
- “PING-in” /ˈpʲiŋʲɟənʲ/
- Plural:
- pinginí (pennies)
- Genitive singular:
- pingine, na pingine (e.g. luach na pingine, the value of the penny)
- Genitive plural:
- pinginí, na bpinginí (e.g. mála na bpinginí, the bag of pennies)
What does “pingin” mean?
“Pingin” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- penny
- A small coin worth one hundredth of a pound or, formerly, a twelfth of a shilling.Also: pence, coin, cent.
1 other meaning: money
- 2money
- Used loosely, especially in negative phrases, for any money at all.Also: cash, a penny, red cent.
“Pingin” with the article
The plural of penny in Irish is pinginí. Here is pingin after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Pingin” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using pingin, the Irish word for penny.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Penny in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for penny?
The Irish for penny is pingin (pronounced “PING-in”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is pinginí. Depending on context it can also mean money.
How do you pronounce pingin in Irish?
Pingin is said like “PING-in” (IPA /ˈpʲiŋʲɟənʲ/).
What is the plural of penny in Irish?
The plural of pingin is pinginí; with the article, na pinginí means “the pennies”. The genitive plural is pinginí, as in mála na bpinginí (the bag of pennies).
Does pingin have more than one meaning?
Yes. Pingin can mean penny or money, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does pingin change to phingin or bpingin?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) pingin becomes mo phingin (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár bpingin (eclipsis).
What does 'níl pingin rua agam' mean?
It means 'I haven't a penny' or 'I'm broke'; 'pingin rua' is literally a copper (red) penny.
