Queen in Irish (Banríon): Meaning & Pronunciation

Q: What is the Irish for queen?

The Irish for queen is banríon (pronounced “BAN-ree-un”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is banríonacha.

Q: What is the plural of queen in Irish?

The plural of banríon is banríonacha; with the article, na banríonacha means “the queens”. The genitive plural is banríonacha, as in saol na mbanríonacha (the lives of the queens).

How to say “queen” in Irish

Irish:: banríon
English:: queen
Word type:: noun
Gender:: feminine, third declension
Pronunciation:: “BAN-ree-un” /ˈbˠanˠɾˠiːənˠ/

Various forms

Plural:: banríonacha (queens)
Genitive singular:: banríona, na banríona (e.g. coróin na banríona, the queen's crown)
Genitive plural:: banríonacha, na mbanríonacha (e.g. saol na mbanríonacha, the lives of the queens)

What does “banríon” mean?

“Banríon” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.

queen: A woman who rules a country, or the wife of a king.Also: female monarch, king's wife, queen consort.

2 other meanings:

2queen: The most powerful piece in chess, or a court card showing a queen.Also: chess queen, queen card.
3queen: The egg-laying female of bees, ants or wasps.Also: queen bee, queen ant.

“Banríon” with the article

The plural of queen in Irish is banríonacha. Here is banríon after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.

an bhanríon

the queen

Lenition: b becomes bh after an (feminine noun)

na banríonacha

the queens

Plural: no change after na

“Banríon” in a sentence: Irish examples

Common Irish sentences using banríon, the Irish word for queen.

Tháinig an bhanríon go hÉirinn anuraidh.

The queen came to Ireland last year.

Bhí sí ina banríon ar feadh caoga bliain.

She was queen for fifty years.

Chonaic mé pictiúr den bhanríon sa nuachtán.

I saw a picture of the queen in the newspaper.

Cá bhfuil caisleán na banríona?

Where is the queen's castle?

Banríonacha cumhachtacha ab ea iad beirt.

They were both powerful queens.

Bhog mé mo bhanríon trasna an chláir.

I moved my queen across the board.

Tá banríon amháin i ngach coirceog.

There is one queen in every beehive.

Other nouns in Irish

More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.

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Queen in Irish: frequently asked questions

What is the Irish for queen?

The Irish for queen is banríon (pronounced “BAN-ree-un”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is banríonacha.

How do you pronounce banríon in Irish?

Banríon is said like “BAN-ree-un” (IPA /ˈbˠanˠɾˠiːənˠ/).

What is the plural of queen in Irish?

The plural of banríon is banríonacha; with the article, na banríonacha means “the queens”. The genitive plural is banríonacha, as in saol na mbanríonacha (the lives of the queens).

Why does banríon change to bhanríon or mbanríon?

Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) banríon becomes mo bhanríon (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár mbanríon (eclipsis).

How do you say 'the Queen of England' in Irish?

You say 'Banríon Shasana', with the country name in the genitive. 'An bhanríon' with lenition means 'the queen'.

What is the male equivalent of banríon?

The male equivalent is 'rí', king; banríon itself is built from 'ban', woman, and 'ríon', queen.

Queen in Irish (Banríon): Meaning, Pronunciation, Usage