HeyRuaHow to say “tune” in Irish
- Irish:
- port
- English:
- tune, jig
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “purt” /pˠɔɾˠt̪ˠ/
- Plural:
- poirt (tunes)
- Genitive singular:
- poirt, an phoirt (e.g. ainm an phoirt, the name of the tune)
- Genitive plural:
- port, na bport (e.g. leabhar na bport, the book of tunes)
What does “port” mean?
“Port” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- tune
- A lively piece of instrumental music, especially a traditional dance tune.Also: air, melody, dance tune.
“Port” with the article
The plural of tune in Irish is poirt. Here is port after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Port” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using port, the Irish word for tune.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Tune in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for tune?
The Irish for tune is port (pronounced “purt”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is poirt. Depending on context it can also mean jig.
How do you pronounce port in Irish?
Port is said like “purt” (IPA /pˠɔɾˠt̪ˠ/).
What is the plural of tune in Irish?
The plural of port is poirt; with the article, na poirt means “the tunes”. The genitive plural is port, as in leabhar na bport (the book of tunes).
Does port have more than one meaning?
Yes. Port can mean tune or jig, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does port change to phort or bport?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) port becomes mo phort (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár bport (eclipsis).
Does 'port' also mean a harbour?
Yes, there is a separate word 'port' meaning port or harbour, but this entry covers 'port' meaning a tune or jig. Context makes it clear: 'port a sheinm' is to play a tune.
What does 'd'athraigh sé a phort' mean?
Literally 'he changed his tune', it means he changed his attitude or story, just as in English.
