HeyRuaHow to say “wasp” in Irish
- Irish:
- foiche
- English:
- wasp
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “FI-hyuh” /ˈfʲɪçə/
Various forms
- Plural:
- foichí (wasps)
- Genitive singular:
- foiche, na foiche (e.g. cealg na foiche, the wasp's sting)
- Genitive plural:
- foichí, na bhfoichí (e.g. nead foichí, a wasps' nest)
What does “foiche” mean?
- wasp
- A yellow and black flying insect with a painful sting.Also: hornet, stinging insect.
“Foiche” with the article
The plural of wasp in Irish is foichí. Here is foiche after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
an fhoiche
the wasp
Lenition: f becomes fh after an (feminine noun)
na foichí
the wasps
Plural: no change after na
“Foiche” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using foiche, the Irish word for wasp.
Tá foiche sa chistin.
There's a wasp in the kitchen.
Chuir an fhoiche cealg i mo lámh.
The wasp stung my hand.
Bíonn go leor foichí thart sa samhradh.
There are lots of wasps around in summer.
Fuaireamar nead foichí faoin díon.
We found a wasps' nest under the roof.
Tá eagla ar mo dheirfiúr roimh fhoichí.
My sister is afraid of wasps.
Bhí foiche i mo ghloine líomanáide.
There was a wasp in my glass of lemonade.
Ná buail an fhoiche, fág í.
Don't swat the wasp, leave it alone.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Wasp in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for wasp?
The Irish for wasp is foiche (pronounced “FI-hyuh”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is foichí.
How do you pronounce foiche in Irish?
Foiche is said like “FI-hyuh” (IPA /ˈfʲɪçə/).
What is the plural of wasp in Irish?
The plural of foiche is foichí; with the article, na foichí means “the wasps”. The genitive plural is foichí, as in nead foichí (a wasps' nest).
Why does foiche change to fhoiche or bhfoiche?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) foiche becomes m'fhoiche (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár bhfoiche (eclipsis).
What is the difference between 'foiche' and 'beach'?
'Foiche' is a wasp, while 'beach' is a bee; a bumblebee is 'bumbóg'.
