HeyRuaHow to say “wind” in Irish
- Irish:
- gaoth
- English:
- wind, flatulence, empty talk, hint
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, second declension
- Pronunciation:
- “gwee” /ɡiː/
- Plural:
- gaotha (winds)
- Genitive singular:
- gaoithe, na gaoithe (e.g. neart na gaoithe, the strength of the wind)
- Genitive plural:
- gaoth, na ngaoth (e.g. treo na ngaoth, the direction of the winds)
What does “gaoth” mean?
“Gaoth” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- wind
- Air moving naturally across the land or sea, from a light breeze to a strong gale.Also: breeze, gale, air current.
3 other meanings: flatulence or empty talk or hint
- 2flatulence
- Gas in the stomach or bowels.Also: wind, gas.
- 3empty talk
- Boastful or meaningless talk that has no substance.Also: bombast, hot air.
- 4hint
- A slight suggestion or rumour of something, as in getting wind of a matter.Also: inkling, wind of something.
Other Irish words for wind: broim (fart)
“Gaoth” with the article
The plural of wind in Irish is gaotha. Here is gaoth after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Gaoth” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using gaoth, the Irish word for wind.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Wind in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for wind?
The Irish for wind is gaoth (pronounced “gwee”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is gaotha. Depending on context it can also mean flatulence or empty talk or hint.
How do you pronounce gaoth in Irish?
Gaoth is said like “gwee” (IPA /ɡiː/).
What is the plural of wind in Irish?
The plural of gaoth is gaotha; with the article, na gaotha means “the winds”. The genitive plural is gaoth, as in treo na ngaoth (the direction of the winds).
Does gaoth have more than one meaning?
Yes. Gaoth can mean wind, flatulence, empty talk or hint, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does gaoth change to ghaoth or ngaoth?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) gaoth becomes mo ghaoth (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár ngaoth (eclipsis).
How do I say 'to get wind of something' in Irish?
Say 'gaoth an fhocail a fháil' or 'gaoth an scéil a fháil', literally to get the wind of the word or story.
Is 'gaoth' the same as 'gaoth' meaning wise?
No. The noun 'gaoth' (wind) is unrelated to the adjective 'gaoth' meaning wise; the adjective is rare, while the noun is very common.
