HeyRuaHow to say “river” in Irish
- Irish:
- abhainn
- English:
- river
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, fifth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “OW-in” /aunʲ/
- Plural:
- aibhneacha (rivers)
- Genitive singular:
- abhann, na habhann (e.g. bruach na habhann, the bank of the river)
- Genitive plural:
- aibhneacha, na n-aibhneacha (e.g. ainmneacha na n-aibhneacha, the names of the rivers)
What does “abhainn” mean?
- river
- A large natural stream of fresh water flowing across the land to the sea, a lake or another river.Also: stream, waterway.
“Abhainn” with the article
The plural of river in Irish is aibhneacha. Here is abhainn after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Abhainn” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using abhainn, the Irish word for river.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
River in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for river?
The Irish for river is abhainn (pronounced “OW-in”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is aibhneacha.
How do you pronounce abhainn in Irish?
Abhainn is said like “OW-in” (IPA /aunʲ/).
What is the plural of river in Irish?
The plural of abhainn is aibhneacha; with the article, na haibhneacha means “the rivers”. The genitive plural is aibhneacha, as in ainmneacha na n-aibhneacha (the names of the rivers).
Why does abhainn sometimes have a t or h in front of it?
Irish nouns beginning with a vowel take a prefix after certain words: an abhainn (the river), a habhainn (her river), a n-abhainn (their river), na haibhneacha (the rivers).
What is the difference between abhainn and sruthán?
Abhainn is a river, while sruthán is a small stream or brook. Sruth means a current or stream of flowing water.
Why do Irish place names have 'Abhann' instead of 'abhainn'?
Abhann is the genitive form, used after another noun, as in Cois Abhann (Riverside) or Béal Abhann (river mouth).
