HeyRuaHow to say “puffin” in Irish
- Irish:
- puifín
- English:
- puffin
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “PWIF-een” /ˈpˠɪfʲiːnʲ/
- Plural:
- puifíní (puffins)
- Genitive singular:
- puifín, an phuifín (e.g. gob an phuifín, the puffin's beak)
- Genitive plural:
- puifíní, na bpuifíní (e.g. coilíneacht na bpuifíní, the puffin colony)
What does “puifín” mean?
- puffin
- A black and white seabird with a large, brightly coloured beak that nests on cliffs and islands.Also: Atlantic puffin, seabird.
“Puifín” with the article
The plural of puffin in Irish is puifíní. Here is puifín after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Puifín” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using puifín, the Irish word for puffin.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Puffin in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for puffin?
The Irish for puffin is puifín (pronounced “PWIF-een”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is puifíní.
How do you pronounce puifín in Irish?
Puifín is said like “PWIF-een” (IPA /ˈpˠɪfʲiːnʲ/).
What is the plural of puffin in Irish?
The plural of puifín is puifíní; with the article, na puifíní means “the puffins”. The genitive plural is puifíní, as in coilíneacht na bpuifíní (the puffin colony).
Why does puifín change to phuifín or bpuifín?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) puifín becomes mo phuifín (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár bpuifín (eclipsis).
Is there another Irish word for the puffin?
Yes, 'cánóg' is a traditional name for the puffin, but 'puifín' is the common modern word.
