HeyRuaHow to say “suet” in Irish
- Irish:
- geir
- English:
- suet, tallow
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, second declension
- Pronunciation:
- “gher” /ɟɛɾʲ/
- Plural:
- geireacha (suets)
- Genitive singular:
- geire, na geire (e.g. coinneal gheire, tallow candle)
- Genitive plural:
- geireacha, na ngeireacha (e.g. boladh na ngeireacha, the smell of the suets)
What does “geir” mean?
“Geir” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- suet
- Hard white fat from around the kidneys of cattle or sheep, used in cooking.Also: fat, animal fat.
1 other meaning: tallow
- 2tallow
- Animal fat melted down and used for making candles or soap.Also: rendered fat, grease.
“Geir” with the article
The plural of suet in Irish is geireacha. Here is geir after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Geir” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using geir, the Irish word for suet.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Suet in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for suet?
The Irish for suet is geir (pronounced “gher”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is geireacha. Depending on context it can also mean tallow.
How do you pronounce geir in Irish?
Geir is said like “gher” (IPA /ɟɛɾʲ/).
What is the plural of suet in Irish?
The plural of geir is geireacha; with the article, na geireacha means “the suets”. The genitive plural is geireacha, as in boladh na ngeireacha (the smell of the suets).
Does geir have more than one meaning?
Yes. Geir can mean suet or tallow, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does geir change to gheir or ngeir?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) geir becomes mo gheir (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár ngeir (eclipsis).
What is the difference between geir and saill?
Geir is suet or tallow, the hard fat used in cooking or candles, while saill is fat or fatty meat in general, such as salted pork fat.
