HeyRuaHow to say “rat” in Irish
- Irish:
- francach
- English:
- rat
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “FRANG-kukh” /ˈfˠɾˠaŋkəx/
- Plural:
- francaigh (rats)
- Genitive singular:
- francaigh, an fhrancaigh (e.g. eireaball an fhrancaigh, the rat's tail)
- Genitive plural:
- francach, na bhfrancach (e.g. nead na bhfrancach, the rats' nest)
What does “francach” mean?
- rat
- A rodent larger than a mouse, with a long tail, often found near houses, farms and drains.Also: brown rat, rodent, sewer rat.
“Francach” with the article
The plural of rat in Irish is francaigh. Here is francach after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Francach” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using francach, the Irish word for rat.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Rat in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for rat?
The Irish for rat is francach (pronounced “FRANG-kukh”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is francaigh.
How do you pronounce francach in Irish?
Francach is said like “FRANG-kukh” (IPA /ˈfˠɾˠaŋkəx/).
What is the plural of rat in Irish?
The plural of francach is francaigh; with the article, na francaigh means “the rats”. The genitive plural is francach, as in nead na bhfrancach (the rats' nest).
Does francach have more than one meaning?
Francach also has its own entry as an adjective meaning French.
Why does francach change to fhrancach or bhfrancach?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) francach becomes mo fhrancach (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár bhfrancach (eclipsis).
Does 'francach' also mean a French person?
Yes, with a capital letter 'Francach' means a Frenchman, while lowercase 'francach' is a rat. The French language is 'Fraincis'.
What is the difference between 'francach' and 'luch'?
'Luch' is a mouse, a small rodent, while 'francach' is the larger rat.
