HeyRuaHow to say “piece” in Irish
- Irish:
- píosa
- English:
- piece, while, composition, coin
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “PEE-suh” /ˈpʲiːsˠə/
- Plural:
- píosaí (pieces)
- Genitive singular:
- píosa, an phíosa (e.g. méid an phíosa, the size of the piece)
- Genitive plural:
- píosaí, na bpíosaí (e.g. cur le chéile na bpíosaí, putting the pieces together)
What does “píosa” mean?
“Píosa” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- piece
- A part or bit of something larger, such as a piece of bread or paper.Also: bit, part, fragment.
3 other meanings: while or composition or coin
- 2while
- A period of time or a distance, as in 'ar feadh píosa' (for a while) or 'píosa den bhóthar' (part of the road).Also: bit, distance, stretch.
- 3composition
- A piece of writing, music or art created by someone.Also: piece, work, item.
- 4coin
- A metal coin of a certain value.Also: piece.
Other Irish words for piece: cuid (part), giota (bit), giotán (bit), blogh (fragment)
“Píosa” with the article
The plural of piece in Irish is píosaí. Here is píosa after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Píosa” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using píosa, the Irish word for piece.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Piece in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for piece?
The Irish for piece is píosa (pronounced “PEE-suh”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is píosaí. Depending on context it can also mean while or composition or coin.
How do you pronounce píosa in Irish?
Píosa is said like “PEE-suh” (IPA /ˈpʲiːsˠə/).
What is the plural of piece in Irish?
The plural of píosa is píosaí; with the article, na píosaí means “the pieces”. The genitive plural is píosaí, as in cur le chéile na bpíosaí (putting the pieces together).
Does píosa have more than one meaning?
Yes. Píosa can mean piece, while, composition or coin, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does píosa change to phíosa or bpíosa?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) píosa becomes mo phíosa (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár bpíosa (eclipsis).
What is the difference between píosa and giota?
Both mean a bit or piece; giota is often smaller or more informal, while píosa is the general word, e.g. píosa cáca, giota beag.
How do I say 'for a while' using píosa?
Say ar feadh píosa, or simply píosa, e.g. Fan píosa, 'Wait a while'.
