HeyRuaHow to say “tributary” in Irish
- Irish:
- fo-abhainn
- English:
- tributary
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine
- Pronunciation:
- “FUH-ow-in” /ˈfˠɔˌəunʲ/
- Plural:
- fo-aibhneacha (tributaries)
- Genitive singular:
- fo-abhann, na fo-abhann (e.g. bruach na fo-abhann, the bank of the tributary)
- Genitive plural:
- fo-aibhneacha, na bhfo-aibhneacha (e.g. uisce na bhfo-aibhneacha, the water of the tributaries)
What does “fo-abhainn” mean?
- tributary
- A smaller river or stream that flows into a larger river.Also: affluent, feeder stream, branch of a river.
“Fo-abhainn” with the article
The plural of tributary in Irish is fo-aibhneacha. Here is fo-abhainn after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Fo-abhainn” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using fo-abhainn, the Irish word for tributary.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Tributary in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for tributary?
The Irish for tributary is fo-abhainn (pronounced “FUH-ow-in”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is fo-aibhneacha.
How do you pronounce fo-abhainn in Irish?
Fo-abhainn is said like “FUH-ow-in” (IPA /ˈfˠɔˌəunʲ/).
What is the plural of tributary in Irish?
The plural of fo-abhainn is fo-aibhneacha; with the article, na fo-aibhneacha means “the tributaries”. The genitive plural is fo-aibhneacha, as in uisce na bhfo-aibhneacha (the water of the tributaries).
Why does fo-abhainn change to fho-abhainn or bhfo-abhainn?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) fo-abhainn becomes m'fho-abhainn (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár bhfo-abhainn (eclipsis).
How is fo-abhainn formed?
It combines the prefix fo- (sub-, minor) with abhainn (river), so a fo-abhainn is a minor river feeding a bigger one. The same prefix appears in fo-éadach (underclothing).
