HeyRuaHow to say “seagull” in Irish
- Irish:
- faoileán
- English:
- seagull
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “FWEE-lawn” /ˈfˠiːlˠɑːnˠ/
- Plural:
- faoileáin (seagulls)
- Genitive singular:
- faoileáin, an fhaoileáin (e.g. sciathán an fhaoileáin, the gull's wing)
- Genitive plural:
- faoileán, na bhfaoileán (e.g. scréachaíl na bhfaoileán, the screeching of the seagulls)
What does “faoileán” mean?
- seagull
- A common grey and white seabird with a loud cry, often seen at the coast and around harbours.Also: gull, sea gull, seabird.
“Faoileán” with the article
The plural of seagull in Irish is faoileáin. Here is faoileán after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Faoileán” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using faoileán, the Irish word for seagull.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Seagull in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for seagull?
The Irish for seagull is faoileán (pronounced “FWEE-lawn”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is faoileáin.
How do you pronounce faoileán in Irish?
Faoileán is said like “FWEE-lawn” (IPA /ˈfˠiːlˠɑːnˠ/).
What is the plural of seagull in Irish?
The plural of faoileán is faoileáin; with the article, na faoileáin means “the seagulls”. The genitive plural is faoileán, as in scréachaíl na bhfaoileán (the screeching of the seagulls).
Why does faoileán change to fhaoileán or bhfaoileán?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) faoileán becomes m'fhaoileán (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár bhfaoileán (eclipsis).
Is there a separate word for a tern?
Yes, a tern is 'geabhróg', not 'faoileán', though both are seabirds.
How do I say a herring gull?
A herring gull is 'faoileán scadán', literally 'gull of herrings'.
