HeyRuaHow to say “whiskey” in Irish
- Irish:
- fuisce
- English:
- whiskey
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “FISH-keh” /ˈfˠɪʃcə/
- Genitive singular:
- fuisce, an fhuisce (e.g. buidéal fuisce, a bottle of whiskey)
What does “fuisce” mean?
- whiskey
- A strong alcoholic spirit distilled from grain, especially barley.Also: whisky, spirit, liquor.
Other Irish words for whiskey: uisce beatha (whiskey)
“Fuisce” with the article
Here is fuisce after the article (an t-alt).
“Fuisce” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using fuisce, the Irish word for whiskey.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Whiskey in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for whiskey?
The Irish for whiskey is fuisce (pronounced “FISH-keh”). It’s a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce fuisce in Irish?
Fuisce is said like “FISH-keh” (IPA /ˈfˠɪʃcə/).
Does fuisce have a plural?
No plural form is given for fuisce in the standard. Many abstract and mass nouns in Irish have no plural.
Why does fuisce change to fhuisce or bhfuisce?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) fuisce becomes m'fhuisce (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár bhfuisce (eclipsis).
Where does the word 'fuisce' come from?
It is a shortened form of 'uisce beatha', literally 'water of life', which is also the source of English 'whiskey'.
Is 'fuisce' the same as 'poitín'?
No. 'Fuisce' is legally distilled whiskey, while 'poitín' is traditionally home-distilled, often illicit spirit.
