HeyRuaHow to say “plain” in Irish
- Irish:
- machaire
- English:
- plain, field, machair
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “MAKH-ir-uh” /ˈmaxəɾʲə/
- Plural:
- machairí (plains)
- Genitive singular:
- machaire, an mhachaire (e.g. lár an mhachaire, the middle of the plain)
- Genitive plural:
- machairí, na machairí (e.g. féar na machairí, the grass of the plains)
What does “machaire” mean?
“Machaire” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- plain
- A large, flat stretch of open country, usually grassy with few trees.Also: flat land, open country, lowland.
2 other meanings: field or machair
- 2field
- An open area of ground used for a particular purpose, such as a battle, a race or a game of golf.Also: ground, course, battlefield.
- 3machair
- Low-lying sandy grassland behind a beach, as found along western coasts.Also: links, sandy grassland, dune pasture.
Other Irish words for plain: tur (dry), pléineáilte (plain)
“Machaire” with the article
The plural of plain in Irish is machairí. Here is machaire after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Machaire” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using machaire, the Irish word for plain.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Plain in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for plain?
The Irish for plain is machaire (pronounced “MAKH-ir-uh”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is machairí. Depending on context it can also mean field or machair.
How do you pronounce machaire in Irish?
Machaire is said like “MAKH-ir-uh” (IPA /ˈmaxəɾʲə/).
What is the plural of plain in Irish?
The plural of machaire is machairí; with the article, na machairí means “the plains”. The genitive plural is machairí, as in féar na machairí (the grass of the plains).
Does machaire have more than one meaning?
Yes. Machaire can mean plain, field or machair, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does machaire change to mhachaire?
After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo mhachaire. After ár (our) it stays ár machaire, because m does not take eclipsis.
What is the difference between 'machaire' and 'páirc'?
'Páirc' is an ordinary enclosed field or park, while 'machaire' is a wide open plain or a ground used for a purpose, as in 'machaire catha' (battlefield).
Why do many Northern place names begin with 'Maghera'?
They come from 'machaire', meaning plain, as in Machaire Fíolta (Magherafelt) and Machaire Rátha (Maghera).
