HeyRuaHow to say “uncle” in Irish
- Irish:
- uncail
- English:
- uncle
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “UNG-kil” /ˈʊŋkəlʲ/
- Plural:
- uncailí (uncles)
- Genitive singular:
- uncail, an uncail (e.g. teach m'uncail, my uncle's house)
- Genitive plural:
- uncailí, na n-uncailí (e.g. clann na n-uncailí, the uncles' children)
What does “uncail” mean?
- uncle
- The brother of your mother or father, or the husband of your aunt.Also: father's brother, mother's brother, aunt's husband.
“Uncail” with the article
The plural of uncle in Irish is uncailí. Here is uncail after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Uncail” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using uncail, the Irish word for uncle.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Uncle in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for uncle?
The Irish for uncle is uncail (pronounced “UNG-kil”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is uncailí.
How do you pronounce uncail in Irish?
Uncail is said like “UNG-kil” (IPA /ˈʊŋkəlʲ/).
What is the plural of uncle in Irish?
The plural of uncail is uncailí; with the article, na huncailí means “the uncles”. The genitive plural is uncailí, as in clann na n-uncailí (the uncles' children).
Why does uncail sometimes have a t or h in front of it?
Irish nouns beginning with a vowel take a prefix after certain words: an t-uncail (the uncle), a huncail (her uncle), a n-uncail (their uncle), na huncailí (the uncles).
How do I say 'my uncle' in Irish?
Because uncail begins with a vowel, mo becomes m': m'uncail. 'His uncle' is a uncail and 'her uncle' is a huncail.
Is there a native Irish word for uncle besides uncail?
Yes, older and literary Irish uses deartháir athar (father's brother) or deartháir máthar (mother's brother), but uncail is the normal everyday word.
