HeyRuaHow to say “tortoise” in Irish
- Irish:
- toirtís
- English:
- tortoise
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, second declension
- Pronunciation:
- “TOR-teesh” /ˈt̪ˠɔɾˠtʲiːʃ/
- Plural:
- toirtísí (tortoises)
- Genitive singular:
- toirtíse, na toirtíse (e.g. blaosc na toirtíse, the tortoise's shell)
- Genitive plural:
- toirtísí, na dtoirtísí (e.g. cosa toirtísí, tortoises' legs)
What does “toirtís” mean?
- tortoise
- A slow-moving land reptile with a hard domed shell into which it can draw its head and legs.Also: turtle, terrapin.
“Toirtís” with the article
The plural of tortoise in Irish is toirtísí. Here is toirtís after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Toirtís” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using toirtís, the Irish word for tortoise.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Tortoise in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for tortoise?
The Irish for tortoise is toirtís (pronounced “TOR-teesh”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is toirtísí.
How do you pronounce toirtís in Irish?
Toirtís is said like “TOR-teesh” (IPA /ˈt̪ˠɔɾˠtʲiːʃ/).
What is the plural of tortoise in Irish?
The plural of toirtís is toirtísí; with the article, na toirtísí means “the tortoises”. The genitive plural is toirtísí, as in cosa toirtísí (tortoises' legs).
Why does toirtís change to thoirtís or dtoirtís?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) toirtís becomes mo thoirtís (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár dtoirtís (eclipsis).
Is there a separate word for a sea turtle?
Yes, a sea turtle is usually 'turtar' (or 'toirtís mhara'), while 'toirtís' on its own normally means a land tortoise.
