HeyRuaHow to say “thief” in Irish
- Irish:
- gadaí
- English:
- thief
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “GAD-ee” /ˈɡadˠiː/
- Plural:
- gadaithe (thieves)
- Genitive singular:
- gadaí, an ghadaí (e.g. ainm an ghadaí, the thief's name)
- Genitive plural:
- gadaithe, na ngadaithe (e.g. uaimh na ngadaithe, the thieves' cave)
What does “gadaí” mean?
- thief
- A person who steals things belonging to others.Also: robber, burglar, crook.
Other Irish words for thief: meirleach (robber), bradaí (thief), robálaí (robber)
“Gadaí” with the article
The plural of thief in Irish is gadaithe. Here is gadaí after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Gadaí” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using gadaí, the Irish word for thief.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Thief in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for thief?
The Irish for thief is gadaí (pronounced “GAD-ee”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is gadaithe.
How do you pronounce gadaí in Irish?
Gadaí is said like “GAD-ee” (IPA /ˈɡadˠiː/).
What is the plural of thief in Irish?
The plural of gadaí is gadaithe; with the article, na gadaithe means “the thieves”. The genitive plural is gadaithe, as in uaimh na ngadaithe (the thieves' cave).
Why does gadaí change to ghadaí or ngadaí?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) gadaí becomes mo ghadaí (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár ngadaí (eclipsis).
What is the difference between 'gadaí' and 'goid'?
'Gadaí' is the person, a thief, while 'goid' is the act of stealing, as in 'Ghoid sé an t-airgead' (he stole the money).
Is there a saying about thieves in Irish?
Yes: 'Aithníonn gadaí gadaí', meaning a thief recognises a thief, used like 'it takes one to know one'.
