HeyRuaHow to say “surname” in Irish
- Irish:
- forshloinne
- English:
- surname, nickname
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine
- Pronunciation:
- “FOR-hlin-yuh” /ˈfˠɔɾˠˌhl̪ˠɪn̠ʲə/
- Plural:
- forshloinnte (surnames)
- Genitive singular:
- forshloinne, an fhorshloinne (e.g. litriú an fhorshloinne, the spelling of the surname)
- Genitive plural:
- forshloinnte, na bhforshloinnte (e.g. litriú na bhforshloinnte, the spelling of the surnames)
What does “forshloinne” mean?
“Forshloinne” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- surname
- A family name, the name a person shares with their family, as opposed to the first name.Also: family name, last name.
1 other meaning: nickname
- 2nickname
- An additional name added to a person's name, such as a byname or epithet.Also: byname, epithet.
Other Irish words for surname: sloinne (surname)
“Forshloinne” with the article
The plural of surname in Irish is forshloinnte. Here is forshloinne after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Forshloinne” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using forshloinne, the Irish word for surname.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Surname in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for surname?
The Irish for surname is forshloinne (pronounced “FOR-hlin-yuh”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is forshloinnte. Depending on context it can also mean nickname.
How do you pronounce forshloinne in Irish?
Forshloinne is said like “FOR-hlin-yuh” (IPA /ˈfˠɔɾˠˌhl̪ˠɪn̠ʲə/).
What is the plural of surname in Irish?
The plural of forshloinne is forshloinnte; with the article, na forshloinnte means “the surnames”. The genitive plural is forshloinnte, as in litriú na bhforshloinnte (the spelling of the surnames).
Does forshloinne have more than one meaning?
Yes. Forshloinne can mean surname or nickname, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does forshloinne change to fhorshloinne or bhforshloinne?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) forshloinne becomes m'fhorshloinne (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár bhforshloinne (eclipsis).
What is the difference between 'forshloinne' and 'sloinne'?
'Sloinne' is the everyday word for surname; 'forshloinne' is more formal and also historically meant an extra name or byname. On most forms you will see 'sloinne'.
