HeyRuaHow to say “person” in Irish
- Irish:
- duine
- English:
- person, one, people
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “DIN-yuh” /ˈd̪ˠɪnʲə/
- Plural:
- daoine (people)
- Genitive singular:
- duine, an duine (e.g. ainm an duine, the person's name)
- Genitive plural:
- daoine, na ndaoine (e.g. cearta daoine, people's rights)
What does “duine” mean?
“Duine” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- person
- A human being, a man, woman or child.Also: human being, individual, man, someone.
2 other meanings: one or people
- 2one
- Used to mean one person, someone or anyone, especially in phrases like 'gach duine' (everyone) and 'aon duine' (anyone).Also: someone, anyone, everyone, somebody.
- 3people
- In the plural 'daoine', people in general or the people of a family or place.Also: folk, persons, family.
Other Irish words for person: pearsa (person), neach (being)
“Duine” with the article
The plural of person in Irish is daoine. Here is duine after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Duine” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using duine, the Irish word for person.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Person in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for person?
The Irish for person is duine (pronounced “DIN-yuh”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is daoine. Depending on context it can also mean one or people.
How do you pronounce duine in Irish?
Duine is said like “DIN-yuh” (IPA /ˈd̪ˠɪnʲə/).
What is the plural of person in Irish?
The plural of duine is daoine; with the article, na daoine means “the people”. The genitive plural is daoine, as in cearta daoine (people's rights).
Does duine have more than one meaning?
Yes. Duine can mean person, one or people, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does duine change to dhuine or nduine?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) duine becomes mo dhuine (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár nduine (eclipsis).
How do I say 'everyone', 'anyone' and 'nobody' in Irish?
Use 'gach duine' for everyone and 'aon duine' or 'duine ar bith' for anyone; with a negative verb these mean nobody, as in 'Ní raibh aon duine ann'.
Is 'duine' only male because it is a masculine noun?
No, 'duine' refers to any person, male or female; the grammatical gender does not depend on the person's sex, so 'Is duine deas í' is correct for a woman.
