HeyRuaHow to say “porcupine” in Irish
- Irish:
- torcán
- English:
- porcupine
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “tur-KAWN” /t̪ˠəɾˠˈkɑːn̪ˠ/
- Plural:
- torcáin (porcupines)
- Genitive singular:
- torcáin, an torcáin (e.g. colgacha an torcáin, the porcupine's quills)
- Genitive plural:
- torcán, na dtorcán (e.g. colgacha na dtorcán, the porcupines' quills)
What does “torcán” mean?
- porcupine
- A large rodent whose back is covered with long sharp quills for protection.Also: quill pig.
“Torcán” with the article
The plural of porcupine in Irish is torcáin. Here is torcán after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Torcán” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using torcán, the Irish word for porcupine.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Porcupine in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for porcupine?
The Irish for porcupine is torcán (pronounced “tur-KAWN”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is torcáin.
How do you pronounce torcán in Irish?
Torcán is said like “tur-KAWN” (IPA /t̪ˠəɾˠˈkɑːn̪ˠ/).
What is the plural of porcupine in Irish?
The plural of torcán is torcáin; with the article, na torcáin means “the porcupines”. The genitive plural is torcán, as in colgacha na dtorcán (the porcupines' quills).
Why does torcán change to thorcán or dtorcán?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) torcán becomes mo thorcán (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár dtorcán (eclipsis).
Is torcán the same as gráinneog?
No. Torcán is a porcupine, a large rodent with long quills, while gráinneog is a hedgehog, the small spiny animal found in Ireland.
