Turf in Irish (Móin): Meaning, Pronunciation & Examples

Q: What is the Irish for turf?

The Irish for turf is móin (pronounced “moan”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is móinte. Depending on context it can also mean bog.

Q: What is the plural of turf in Irish?

The plural of móin is móinte; with the article, na móinte means “the turfs”. The genitive plural is móinte, as in ag siúl na móinte (walking the bogs).

Q: Does móin have more than one meaning?

Yes. Móin can mean turf or bog, depending on context; the first is the most common.

How to say “turf” in Irish

Irish:: móin
English:: turf, bog
Word type:: noun
Gender:: feminine, third declension
Pronunciation:: “moan” /mˠoːnʲ/

Various forms

Plural:: móinte (turfs)
Genitive singular:: móna, na móna (e.g. fód móna, sod of turf)
Genitive plural:: móinte, na móinte (e.g. ag siúl na móinte, walking the bogs)

What does “móin” mean?

“Móin” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.

turf: Peat cut from a bog and dried for use as fuel for the fire.Also: peat, sod of turf, peat fuel.

1 other meaning: bog

2bog: Wet, spongy land where peat forms; a bogland or moor.Also: bogland, moor, peatland.

Other Irish words for turf: fód (sod)

“Móin” with the article

The plural of turf in Irish is móinte. Here is móin after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.

an mhóin

the turf

Lenition: m becomes mh after an (feminine noun)

na móinte

the turfs

Plural: no change after na

“Móin” in a sentence: Irish examples

Common Irish sentences using móin, the Irish word for turf.

Chaith siad an lá ar fad ag baint móna.

They spent the whole day cutting turf.

Cuir móin ar an tine, le do thoil.

Put turf on the fire, please.

Tá an mhóin fliuch fós.

The turf is still wet.

Is breá liom boladh na móna.

I love the smell of turf.

Thug m'athair carr móna abhaile inné.

My father brought a load of turf home yesterday.

Tá an chruach mhóna in aice leis an teach.

The turf stack is beside the house.

Bhí na móinte fairsing agus folamh.

The bogs were wide and empty.

Other nouns in Irish

More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.

méadamount táillefee coimisiúncommission léitheoireachtreading airteagalarticle aiscegift

Turf in Irish: frequently asked questions

What is the Irish for turf?

The Irish for turf is móin (pronounced “moan”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is móinte. Depending on context it can also mean bog.

How do you pronounce móin in Irish?

Móin is said like “moan” (IPA /mˠoːnʲ/).

What is the plural of turf in Irish?

The plural of móin is móinte; with the article, na móinte means “the turfs”. The genitive plural is móinte, as in ag siúl na móinte (walking the bogs).

Does móin have more than one meaning?

Yes. Móin can mean turf or bog, depending on context; the first is the most common.

Why does móin change to mhóin?

After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo mhóin. After ár (our) it stays ár móin, because m does not take eclipsis.

What is the difference between móin and portach?

Móin is mainly the turf itself, the fuel, while portach is the bog where it is cut. Móin can also mean bogland, especially in the plural móinte.

How do you say 'cutting turf' in Irish?

You say ag baint móna, literally 'harvesting turf', with the genitive móna.

Turf in Irish (Móin): Meaning, Pronunciation, Usage