HeyRuaHow to say “slope” in Irish
- Irish:
- fána
- English:
- slope, downward direction
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “FAW-nuh” /ˈfˠaːnˠə/
- Plural:
- fánaí (slopes)
- Genitive singular:
- fána, an fhána (e.g. bun an fhána, the bottom of the slope)
- Genitive plural:
- fánaí, na bhfánaí (e.g. ag sciáil ar bharr na bhfánaí, the skiing on top of the slopes)
What does “fána” mean?
“Fána” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- slope
- A downward slope or incline of the ground.Also: incline, descent, declivity, gradient.
“Fána” with the article
The plural of slope in Irish is fánaí. Here is fána after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Fána” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using fána, the Irish word for slope.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Slope in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for slope?
The Irish for slope is fána (pronounced “FAW-nuh”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is fánaí. Depending on context it can also mean downward direction.
How do you pronounce fána in Irish?
Fána is said like “FAW-nuh” (IPA /ˈfˠaːnˠə/).
What is the plural of slope in Irish?
The plural of fána is fánaí; with the article, na fánaí means “the slopes”. The genitive plural is fánaí, as in ag sciáil ar bharr na bhfánaí (the skiing on top of the slopes).
Does fána have more than one meaning?
Yes. Fána can mean slope or downward direction, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does fána change to fhána or bhfána?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) fána becomes m'fhána (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár bhfána (eclipsis).
What does 'dul le fána' mean?
It literally means going down the slope, but figuratively 'dul le fána' means to go downhill or decline, as in 'chuaigh an áit le fána'.
How do I say uphill?
Use 'in aghaidh na fána' for uphill, the opposite of 'le fána' for downhill.
