HeyRuaHow to say “poor person” in Irish
- Irish:
- bochtán
- English:
- poor person, mean person
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “bukh-TAWN” /bˠɔxˈt̪ˠɑːnˠ/
- Plural:
- bochtáin (poor people)
- Genitive singular:
- bochtáin, an bhochtáin (e.g. cás an bhochtáin, the plight of the poor man)
- Genitive plural:
- bochtán, na mbochtán (e.g. cás na mbochtán, the plight of the poor)
What does “bochtán” mean?
“Bochtán” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- poor person
- A person who has very little money or few possessions.Also: pauper, destitute person, beggar.
1 other meaning: mean person
- 2mean person
- A mean-spirited or miserly person.Also: miser, wretch.
Other Irish words for poor person: bocht (poor person)
“Bochtán” with the article
The plural of poor person in Irish is bochtáin. Here is bochtán after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Bochtán” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using bochtán, the Irish word for poor person.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Poor person in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for poor person?
The Irish for poor person is bochtán (pronounced “bukh-TAWN”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is bochtáin. Depending on context it can also mean mean person.
How do you pronounce bochtán in Irish?
Bochtán is said like “bukh-TAWN” (IPA /bˠɔxˈt̪ˠɑːnˠ/).
What is the plural of poor person in Irish?
The plural of bochtán is bochtáin; with the article, na bochtáin means “the poor people”. The genitive plural is bochtán, as in cás na mbochtán (the plight of the poor).
Does bochtán have more than one meaning?
Yes. Bochtán can mean poor person or mean person, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does bochtán change to bhochtán or mbochtán?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) bochtán becomes mo bhochtán (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár mbochtán (eclipsis).
How is 'bochtán' different from 'na boicht'?
'Bochtán' is a single poor person (plural 'bochtáin'), while 'na boicht' is the usual way to say 'the poor' as a group.
