HeyRuaHow to say “world” in Irish
- Irish:
- domhan
- English:
- world, great amount, domain
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “down” /d̪ˠəun̪ˠ/
- Plural:
- domhain (worlds)
- Genitive singular:
- domhain, an domhain (e.g. ar fud an domhain, all over the world)
- Genitive plural:
- domhan, na ndomhan (e.g. cruthú na ndomhan, the creation of the worlds)
What does “domhan” mean?
“Domhan” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- world
- The earth and everything on it, or all the people and countries of the earth.Also: earth, globe, planet.
2 other meanings: great amount or domain
“Domhan” with the article
The plural of world in Irish is domhain. Here is domhan after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Domhan” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using domhan, the Irish word for world.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
World in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for world?
The Irish for world is domhan (pronounced “down”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is domhain. Depending on context it can also mean great amount or domain.
How do you pronounce domhan in Irish?
Domhan is said like “down” (IPA /d̪ˠəun̪ˠ/).
What is the plural of world in Irish?
The plural of domhan is domhain; with the article, na domhain means “the worlds”. The genitive plural is domhan, as in cruthú na ndomhan (the creation of the worlds).
Does domhan have more than one meaning?
Yes. Domhan can mean world, great amount or domain, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does domhan change to dhomhan or ndomhan?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) domhan becomes mo dhomhan (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár ndomhan (eclipsis).
What is the difference between 'domhan' and 'saol'?
'Domhan' is the physical world or globe, while 'saol' means life or the world of human affairs, as in 'an saol mór'.
How do I say 'at all' or 'on earth' for emphasis?
Use 'ar domhan', as in 'Cad ar domhan atá ort?' meaning 'What on earth is wrong with you?'
