HeyRuaHow to say “storyteller” in Irish
- Irish:
- seanchaí
- English:
- storyteller, tradition-bearer
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “SHAN-uh-khee” /ˈʃanəxiː/
- Plural:
- seanchaithe (storytellers)
- Genitive singular:
- seanchaí, an tseanchaí (e.g. scéal an tseanchaí, the storyteller's tale)
- Genitive plural:
- seanchaithe, na seanchaithe (e.g. traidisiún na seanchaithe, the tradition of the storytellers)
What does “seanchaí” mean?
“Seanchaí” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- storyteller
- A traditional storyteller who recites old tales and lore, especially in the Irish oral tradition.Also: seanchai, shanachie, seannachie, traditional storyteller.
1 other meaning: tradition-bearer
- 2tradition-bearer
- A person who preserves and relates local history, genealogy and old lore.Also: historian, chronicler, custodian of lore.
Other Irish words for storyteller: scéalaí (storyteller)
“Seanchaí” with the article
The plural of storyteller in Irish is seanchaithe. Here is seanchaí after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Seanchaí” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using seanchaí, the Irish word for storyteller.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Storyteller in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for storyteller?
The Irish for storyteller is seanchaí (pronounced “SHAN-uh-khee”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is seanchaithe. Depending on context it can also mean tradition-bearer.
How do you pronounce seanchaí in Irish?
Seanchaí is said like “SHAN-uh-khee” (IPA /ˈʃanəxiː/).
What is the plural of storyteller in Irish?
The plural of seanchaí is seanchaithe; with the article, na seanchaithe means “the storytellers”. The genitive plural is seanchaithe, as in traidisiún na seanchaithe (the tradition of the storytellers).
Does seanchaí have more than one meaning?
Yes. Seanchaí can mean storyteller or tradition-bearer, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does seanchaí change to sheanchaí?
After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo sheanchaí. After ár (our) it stays ár seanchaí, because s does not take eclipsis.
What is the difference between seanchaí and scéalaí?
A scéalaí tells tales, especially long hero tales, while a seanchaí traditionally relates lore, local history and genealogy (seanchas), though today both are often translated 'storyteller'.
Is the English word 'shanachie' related?
Yes, 'shanachie' or 'seanchai' in English is borrowed from Irish seanchaí, which comes from seanchas, 'old lore'.
