HeyRuaHow to say “sea” in Irish
- Irish:
- muir
- English:
- sea
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, third declension
- Pronunciation:
- “mwir” /mˠɪɾʲ/
- Plural:
- mara (seas)
- Genitive singular:
- mara, na mara (e.g. leibhéal na mara, sea level)
- Genitive plural:
- mara, na mara (e.g. ainmhithe na mara, sea creatures)
What does “muir” mean?
- sea
- The large body of salt water covering much of the earth; a literary or formal word, often used in set phrases, beside the everyday 'farraige'.Also: ocean, the deep, main.
Other Irish words for sea: farraige (sea), lear (sea), aigéan (ocean)
“Muir” with the article
The plural of sea in Irish is mara. Here is muir after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Muir” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using muir, the Irish word for sea.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Sea in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for sea?
The Irish for sea is muir (pronounced “mwir”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is mara.
How do you pronounce muir in Irish?
Muir is said like “mwir” (IPA /mˠɪɾʲ/).
What is the plural of sea in Irish?
The plural of muir is mara; with the article, na mara means “the seas”. The genitive plural is mara, as in ainmhithe na mara (sea creatures).
Why does muir change to mhuir?
After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo mhuir. After ár (our) it stays ár muir, because m does not take eclipsis.
What is the difference between 'muir' and 'farraige'?
Both mean sea, but 'farraige' is the everyday word, while 'muir' is more literary and survives mainly in set phrases such as 'ar muir' (at sea) and the genitive 'mara' (bia mara, cois mara).
Why is 'mara' so common if 'muir' is rare?
The genitive 'mara' is used adjectivally in many everyday terms, such as 'bia mara' (seafood) and 'cois mara' (by the sea), even in speech that normally uses 'farraige'.
