HeyRuaHow to say “sister” in Irish
- Irish:
- siúr
- English:
- sister, nun
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, fifth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “shoor” /ʃuːɾˠ/
- Plural:
- siúracha (sisters)
- Genitive singular:
- siúrach, na siúrach (e.g. teach na siúrach, the sister's house)
- Genitive plural:
- siúracha, na siúracha (e.g. clochar na siúracha, the sisters' convent)
What does “siúr” mean?
“Siúr” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- sister
- A female sibling; a literary or dialect word for a sister, now mostly replaced by 'deirfiúr'.Also: sibling.
1 other meaning: nun
- 2nun
- A woman who is a member of a religious order, used as a title, as in Siúr Bríd.Also: sister, religious sister.
Other Irish words for sister: deirfiúr (sister)
“Siúr” with the article
The plural of sister in Irish is siúracha. Here is siúr after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Siúr” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using siúr, the Irish word for sister.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Sister in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for sister?
The Irish for sister is siúr (pronounced “shoor”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is siúracha. Depending on context it can also mean nun.
How do you pronounce siúr in Irish?
Siúr is said like “shoor” (IPA /ʃuːɾˠ/).
What is the plural of sister in Irish?
The plural of siúr is siúracha; with the article, na siúracha means “the sisters”. The genitive plural is siúracha, as in clochar na siúracha (the sisters' convent).
Does siúr have more than one meaning?
Yes. Siúr can mean sister or nun, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does siúr change to shiúr?
After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo shiúr. After ár (our) it stays ár siúr, because s does not take eclipsis.
What is the difference between 'siúr' and 'deirfiúr'?
'Deirfiúr' is the everyday word for a sister in a family, while 'siúr' is mainly used for a nun or as a title, as in an tSiúr Máire. 'Bean rialta' is another common word for a nun.
