HeyRuaHow to say “thread” in Irish
- Irish:
- snáithe
- English:
- thread, stitch, grain, thread of a story
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “SNAW-huh” /ˈsn̪ˠaːhə/
- Plural:
- snáitheanna (threads)
- Genitive singular:
- snáithe, an tsnáithe (e.g. fad an tsnáithe, the length of the thread)
- Genitive plural:
- snáitheanna, na snáitheanna (e.g. dathanna na snáitheanna, the colours of the threads)
What does “snáithe” mean?
“Snáithe” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- thread
- A long thin strand of cotton, silk or other fibre used for sewing.Also: sewing thread, strand, yarn.
3 other meanings: stitch or grain or thread of a story
- 2stitch
- A single stitch or a small amount of thread, often used in phrases like not a stitch.Also: bit of thread.
- 3grain
- The grain or fibre of wood, cloth or another material.Also: fibre, texture.
- 4thread of a story
- The connecting line of a story, argument or conversation.Also: thread, train of thought, line of argument.
Other Irish words for thread: snáth (thread)
“Snáithe” with the article
The plural of thread in Irish is snáitheanna. Here is snáithe after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Snáithe” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using snáithe, the Irish word for thread.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Thread in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for thread?
The Irish for thread is snáithe (pronounced “SNAW-huh”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is snáitheanna. Depending on context it can also mean stitch or grain or thread of a story.
How do you pronounce snáithe in Irish?
Snáithe is said like “SNAW-huh” (IPA /ˈsn̪ˠaːhə/).
What is the plural of thread in Irish?
The plural of snáithe is snáitheanna; with the article, na snáitheanna means “the threads”. The genitive plural is snáitheanna, as in dathanna na snáitheanna (the colours of the threads).
Does snáithe have more than one meaning?
Yes. Snáithe can mean thread, stitch, grain or thread of a story, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does snáithe change to shnáithe?
After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo shnáithe. After ár (our) it stays ár snáithe, because s does not take eclipsis.
What is the difference between snáithe and snáth?
Snáithe is a single thread or strand, while snáth is thread or yarn as a material in general. Both are used for sewing contexts.
How do I say 'not a stitch on him'?
Say 'Ní raibh snáithe air', literally 'there wasn't a thread on him'.
