HeyRuaHow to say “sweet” in Irish
- Irish:
- milseán
- English:
- sweet, dessert, sweet-grass
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “mil-SHAWN” /mʲɪlʲˈʃɑːnˠ/
- Plural:
- milseáin (sweets)
- Genitive singular:
- milseáin, an mhilseáin (e.g. blas an mhilseáin, the taste of the sweet)
- Genitive plural:
- milseán, na milseán (e.g. siopa milseán, sweet shop)
What does “milseán” mean?
“Milseán” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- sweet
- A small piece of sugary food such as a toffee or boiled sweet.Also: candy, bonbon, confectionery.
2 other meanings: dessert or sweet-grass
“Milseán” with the article
The plural of sweet in Irish is milseáin. Here is milseán after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Milseán” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using milseán, the Irish word for sweet.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Sweet in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for sweet?
The Irish for sweet is milseán (pronounced “mil-SHAWN”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is milseáin. Depending on context it can also mean dessert or sweet-grass.
How do you pronounce milseán in Irish?
Milseán is said like “mil-SHAWN” (IPA /mʲɪlʲˈʃɑːnˠ/).
What is the plural of sweet in Irish?
The plural of milseán is milseáin; with the article, na milseáin means “the sweets”. The genitive plural is milseán, as in siopa milseán (sweet shop).
Does milseán have more than one meaning?
Yes. Milseán can mean sweet, dessert or sweet-grass, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does milseán change to mhilseán?
After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo mhilseán. After ár (our) it stays ár milseán, because m does not take eclipsis.
What is the difference between milseán and milseog?
Milseán usually means a sweet or candy, while milseog is the usual word for a dessert or pudding, although milseán can also mean dessert.
