HeyRuaHow to say “wall” in Irish
- Irish:
- balla
- English:
- wall
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “BAL-uh” /ˈbˠalˠə/
- Plural:
- ballaí (walls)
- Genitive singular:
- balla, an bhalla (e.g. barr an bhalla, top of the wall)
- Genitive plural:
- ballaí, na mballaí (e.g. dath na mballaí, colour of the walls)
What does “balla” mean?
- wall
- A vertical structure of stone, brick or other material that encloses, divides or supports a building or area.Also: partition, boundary wall, garden wall.
Other Irish words for wall: claí (wall)
“Balla” with the article
The plural of wall in Irish is ballaí. Here is balla after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Balla” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using balla, the Irish word for wall.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Wall in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for wall?
The Irish for wall is balla (pronounced “BAL-uh”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is ballaí.
How do you pronounce balla in Irish?
Balla is said like “BAL-uh” (IPA /ˈbˠalˠə/).
What is the plural of wall in Irish?
The plural of balla is ballaí; with the article, na ballaí means “the walls”. The genitive plural is ballaí, as in dath na mballaí (colour of the walls).
Why does balla change to bhalla or mballa?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) balla becomes mo bhalla (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár mballa (eclipsis).
What is the difference between 'balla' and 'claí'?
A 'balla' is a built wall, especially of a building or of mortared stone, while a 'claí' is a field fence or bank, often of earth or loose stones.
Why do I see both 'ar an mballa' and 'ar an bhalla'?
The Caighdeán eclipses after a preposition plus 'an' ('ar an mballa'), while Ulster Irish lenites ('ar an bhalla'); both are heard.
