An initial mutation is a change made to the beginning of a word due to gender, case, tense or other grammatical circumstances. The initial mutations include lenition, eclipsis, t before a vowel, t before s, h before a vowel and d' before a vowel or before fh‑. The use of initial mutations is explained here, including the lenition of an indefinite noun after a feminine noun and the lenition of an indefinite noun after a plural noun ending in a slender consonant.
These are the lenitable consonants: b, c, d, f, g, m, p, s (except for sc-, sf-, sm-, sp-, st- and sv-) and t.
Lenition is applied to the noun in the following contexts.
Lenition is applied to the noun after the article (unless the initial consonant is d, t or s) —
in the nominative singular feminine, e.g., an chathair (EN: the city); an ghloine (EN: the glass); an fhuascailt (EN: the release):
Tá an bhean ag canadh. |
The woman is singing. |
Ar dhún sé an fhuinneog? |
Did he close the window? |
in the genitive singular masculine, e.g., mac an fhir (EN: the man’s son); geata an choláiste (EN: the college gate):
Cad a tharla do bhronntanas an pháiste i ndiaidh na cóisire? |
What happened to the child’s gift after the party? |
Ba ghá dom imeacht roimh dheireadh an chluiche. |
I needed to leave before the end of the game. |
in the dative singular, masculine and feminine, in some situations where a preposition takes the article according to the Core System, e.g., den chapall (EN: of/off the horse) (see 1.4), or according to the Lenition System, e.g., ar an chapall (EN: on the horse) (see 1.7):
Mheallfadh sí an t‑éan den chrann. |
She would attract the bird off the tree. |
Tugadh maoiniú breise don chuideachta. |
Additional funding was given to the company. |
Lenition is applied after the vocative particle in the singular and plural, masculine and feminine, e.g., a dhuine chóir (EN: O good man); a Ghaela! (EN: O Gael!); a chairde na páirte (EN: O friends of the party):
A dhaoine uaisle, tá fáilte romhaibh anseo anocht. |
O noble people, you are welcome here tonight. |
Maith sibh, a fheara! |
Well done, O men! |
Lenition is applied to the noun after the following adjectives —
the possessive adjectives mo, do, a (masculine singular), e.g., mo mhac (EN: my son); do theach (EN: your house); a pheann (EN: his pen):
Is é mo mhála é. |
It is my bag. |
Cár fhág sé a charr? |
Where did he leave his car? |
the distributive adjective uile (EN: every), e.g., an uile fhocal (EN: every word); gach uile sheachtain (EN: every week):
Bíonn an uile chineál duine ag freastal air. |
Every kind of person attends it. |
Tá gach uile chlár sa tsraith feicthe aici. |
She has seen every episode in the series. |
the indefinite adjective aon (EN: any), e.g., aon mhála (EN: one bag), aon chóta (EN: one coat) (except when the noun begins with d, t or s, e.g., aon duine (EN: one person), aon teaghlach (EN: one family)):
Ní raibh aon bhia sa teach. |
There was not any food in the house. |
An bhfuair tú aon bheart sa phost? |
Did you get any parcels in the mail? |
Lenition is applied to the noun after the following numbers —
the cardinal number aon (EN: one) and the ordinal number céad (EN: first), unless the initial consonant is d, t or s, e.g., aon chailín amháin (EN: (only) one girl); an chéad bhróg (EN: the first shoe); aon samhradh amháin (EN: one summer); an chéad teach (EN: the first house):
Níl ach aon bhealach amháin lena dhéanamh. |
There is only one way to do it. |
Ba é sin an chéad phictiúr a dhíol sé riamh. |
That was the first picture he ever sold. |
dhá (EN: two), e.g., dhá chrann (EN: two trees); an dá chóta (EN: the two coats); except when the possessive adjective a (third person singular feminine and third person plural), ár (EN: our) or bhur (EN: your) precedes it, e.g., dhá chapall ach a dhá géag (EN: two horses but her two legs) (third person singular feminine); ár dhá gcapall (EN: our two horses); bhur dhá dteach (EN: your two houses); a dhá mbó (EN: their two cows) (third person plural) (see 8.3.3):
Ba ise an bhean a raibh dhá mhadra aici. |
She was the woman who had two dogs. |
Tá an dá thionscadal críochnaithe anois. |
The two projects are finished now. |
trí (EN: three), ceithre (EN: four), cúig (EN: five), sé (EN: six), e.g., trí bhád (EN: three boats); ceithre bhó (EN: four cows) (except for nouns that have a special plural form after the cardinal numbers — see 9.3.2, and for the word cent, e.g., dhá cent (EN: two cents); cúig cent (EN: five cents):
Níor sheol mé ach cúig chárta Nollag i mbliana. |
I only sent five Christmas cards this year. |
Léigh sí sé chaibidil roimh an rang. |
She read six chapters before the class. |
Note:
that the initial mutation that applies is that of the final number in a series to be placed before the word it qualifies, e.g., sé nó seacht mbád (EN: six or seven boats);
that if the Simplified System above twenty (fiche) is used (see 9.3.10 — 9.3.12), lenition is not applied to the noun, e.g., fiche a trí capall (EN: twenty-three horses); 56 fuinneog (EN: fifty-six windows).
Lenition is applied to the noun after the following simple prepositions —
de, do (and a from do, e.g., obair a dhéanamh (EN: to do work)), faoi, ionsar, mar, ó, roimh, trí, um, e.g., de Shiobhán (EN: of Siobhán); do bhuachaillí (EN: to boys); faoi bhord (EN: under a table); ionsar Sheán, mar dhuine (EN: against Seán, as a person); ó bhéal (EN: from a mouth):
Críochnóidh sí an obair roimh mhaidin. |
She will finish the work before morning. |
Is de thaisme a tharla sé. |
It happened by accident. |
The prepositions do and de are shortened to d' before nouns beginning with a vowel or f + vowel, e.g., d’athair Sheáin (EN: to Seán’s father), d’fhoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge (EN: to Irish learners); but this is not done for f + consonant, e.g., do Fhrancaigh (EN: to the French):
Is d’iníon Úna a thug mé an leabhar. |
It is Úna’s daughter to whom I gave the book. |
Níor thug sí de fhreagra orm ach tosú ag gol. |
She did not give me an answer except to start crying. |
Note: b, m and p are not lenited after um, e.g., ordú um praghsanna a chobhsú (EN: an order to stabilize prices); an tÚdarás um Bóithre Náisiúnta (EN: the National Roads Authority).
ar, e.g., ar bhád (EN: on a boat), ar chlé (EN: on the left), ar dheis (EN: on the right), ar dhaoine (EN: on people) (see also 10.6.4(b)):
Níl a fhios aici conas cnaipe a chur ar chóta. |
She does not know how to put a button on a coat. |
D’fhág sé a bhróga ar charraig in aice na farraige. |
He left his shoes on a rock near the sea. |
Note that the noun is not lenited for adverbial phrases or verbal nouns indicating state or position, e.g., ar ball (EN: a while ago); ar bord (loinge) (EN: on board (ship)); ar comhaois (EN: of same age); ar comhchéim (EN: in step); ar comhscór (EN: in a tie); ar comhstádas (EN: in equal status); ar deireadh (EN: at the end); ar fad (EN: at length); ar fiar (EN: inclined); ar meisce (EN: in drunkenness); ar muir agus ar tír (EN: by land and sea); ar srian (EN: in reins); ar tiús (EN: in thickness); ar bogadh (EN: in loose); ar crochadh (EN: hanging); ar fáil (EN: available); ar siúl (meaning happening); but ar fheabhas (EN: excellent); ar shiúl (meaning gone). However, lenition is applied to the noun if it is qualified, e.g., ar chonradh sealadach (EN: on a temporary contract); ar shaoire mháithreachais (EN: on maternity leave); ar bharr an tí (EN: on top of the house); except for ar bord loinge (EN: on board a ship); ar ball beag (EN: a little while ago).
gan, on an unqualified noun unless the initial consonant is d, t, s or f, e.g., gan chuid (EN: without a part); gan chiall (EN: without sense); gan mhaith (EN: without good); gan mheabhair (EN: without mind); gan bhréag (EN: without a lie); but gan dearmad (EN: without forgetting); gan sagart (EN: without a priest); gan tine (EN: without fire); gan feoirling (EN: without a farthing) (exception: gan fhios (EN: without knowledge));
D’fhág na saighdiúirí an geata isteach gan chosaint. |
The soldiers left the gate open without protection. |
Tiocfaidh na comhaltaí eile gan mhoill. |
The other members will arrive without delay. |
Lenition is not applied to a qualified noun, e.g., gan pingin rua (EN: without a red penny); gan carn aoiligh (EN: without a heap of lime); gan bolgán solais (EN: without a light bulb); gan ciall linbh (EN: without a child’s sense); gan brí ar bith (EN: without any meaning); gan misneach a chailleadh (EN: without losing courage):
Fágadh gan cuan mara iad. |
They were left without a safe harbor. |
Dúirt siad nach ndéanfaí an próiseas a athrú gan cúis chóir. |
They said the process would not be changed without good reason. |
D’imigh siad gan pingin a shaothrú. |
They left without earning a penny. |
Note that lenition is not applied to an unqualified noun if it is a definite proper name, e.g., d’fhág siad gan Cáit (EN: they left without Cáit); or if it is a verbal noun in a noun phrase, e.g., b’fhearr duit gan pósadh (EN: you would prefer without marrying); moladh dó gan corraí (EN: he was praised without anger):
Chríochnaigh sí an obair gan Micheál. |
She finished the work without Micheál. |
Shocraigh sí gan géilleadh. |
She decided without surrendering. |
idir, when it means both, e.g., idir bheag agus mhór (EN: both small and large); idir chailíní agus bhuachaillí (EN: both girls and boys). The noun following idir is not lenited if it begins with d, t or s, e.g., idir shúgradh is dáiríre (EN: both play and serious); idir mhná rialta agus sagairt (EN: both nuns and priests):
Tá idir fhocail agus phictiúir sa leabhar. |
There are both words and pictures in the book. |
Beidh idir dhaoine óga agus seanóirí i láthair. |
There will be both young people and seniors present. |
Note that lenition is not applied to a noun after idir when it means between, e.g., idir Corcaigh agus Gaillimh (EN: between Cork and Galway); idir breith agus baisteadh (EN: between birth and baptism); idir tithe (EN: between houses); idir béilí (EN: between meals):
Bhí an páiste ina dhúiseacht idir meán oíche agus breacadh an lae. |
The child was awake between midnight and dawn. |
Thosaigh troid idir beirt fhear lasmuigh den siopa. |
A fight started between two men outside the shop. |
thar, e.g., léim sé thar gheata ard (EN: he jumped over a high gate); ní raibh thar chúigear acu ann (EN: there were no more than five of them there):
Ní fiú thar phingin é. |
It is not worth more than a penny. |
Níl an leabhar sin thar mholadh beirte. |
The book is not beyond praise. |
Note that lenition is not applied to a noun after thar in certain phrases containing an indefinite noun, e.g., thar barr (EN: over the top); thar bráid (EN: over the limit); thar cionn (EN: over the head); thar fóir (EN: over the edge); thar sáile (EN: over the sea); thar toinn (EN: over the waves); nor in the compound preposition thar ceann (EN: for the sake of):
Dhíbir siad í thar tír amach. |
They drove her out beyond the country. |
Chaith sé tréimhse thar sáile sular thosaigh sé ag obair anseo. |
He spent a period overseas before he started working here. |
Note: If a series of nouns is subject to a simple preposition, the initial mutation is applied only to the noun immediately following it, e.g., Rinne siad taighde ar chonarthaí, comhaontuithe, córais agus scéimeanna (EN: They conducted research on contracts, agreements, systems, and schemes); except when idir is used to mean both, e.g., idir bheag agus mhór (EN: both small and large).
A definite noun (see 3.1.2) that is subject to a compound preposition or by cois, dála, fearacht, timpeall, trasna is lenited, e.g., ar aghaidh dhoras an tséipéil (EN: at the front door of the chapel); cois Bhóthar na hUaimhe (EN: by the Road of the Cave); de bhun mhír (b) (EN: under item (b)); fearacht Sheáin (EN: John’s ferry); le haghaidh chlár a ceathair (EN: for a four-part plan).
Tá tithe aici ar fud Bhaile Átha Cliath agus chathair Chorcaí. |
She has houses all over Dublin and Cork city. |
Dúirt sé i láthair bhean an tí é. |
He said it in the presence of the woman of the house. |
Is timpeall mhí na Nollag a tharla sé. |
It happened around the month of December. |
Note that a definite noun is not lenited after chun, e.g., chun foirgneamh a seacht (EN: toward seven buildings); chun gairdín a gcomharsan (EN: toward a neighbor’s garden); chun Meiriceá (EN: toward America); chun Gearóid (EN: to Gearóid); chun Parlaimint na hEorpa (EN: to the European Parliament).
Indefinite nouns are not lenited except in established phrases, e.g., tar éis bháis (meaning after passing away).
If a (non-definite) noun in the genitive is subject to a singular feminine noun (not in the genitive), it is usually lenited, e.g., cloch shneachta (EN: snowflake); deoir bhainne (EN: tear of milk); gloine bheorach (EN: glass of beer); léine chadáis (EN: cotton shirt); tuarascáil pharlaiminte (EN: parliamentary report); bliain bhisigh (EN: leap year); bliain chánach (EN: fiscal year); bliain mheasúnachta (EN: assessment year); mí ghealaí (EN: lunar month):
Chuaigh siad go dtí an pháirc pheile. |
They went to the football field. |
An seinneann tú uirlis cheoil? |
Do you play a musical instrument? |
Ar chríochnaigh tú d’obair bhaile? |
Did you finish your homework? |
Fan agus ól gloine cheirtlise linn! |
Stay and drink a glass of cider with us! |
Note that all the contexts in (a) to (m) list the instances when an indefinite noun subject to a singular feminine noun (not in the genitive) is not lenited. In all other contexts, lenition is applied to an indefinite noun subject to a singular feminine noun (not in the genitive).
Note: An example could be included in one or more of the following contexts, e.g., (b) and (e) apply to the example léim fia (EN: deer leap).
The second noun is not lenited if the first noun ends in d, n, t, l or s and the second noun begins with d, t or s, e.g., áit dúchais (EN: place of origin); bean tí (EN: housewife); cúis dóchais (EN: cause of hope); maidin samhraidh (EN: summer morning); saighead draíochta (EN: magic arrow); scoil samhraidh (EN: summer school):
Tá sí ag obair sa tsaotharlann taighde. |
She is working in the research laboratory. |
Cúisíodh an cosantóir sa Chúirt Dúiche. |
The defender was charged in the District Court. |
The second noun is not lenited if that noun begins with f, e.g., buile feirge (EN: fit of anger); cúirt filíochta (EN: poetry court); deoch fuisce (EN: whiskey drink); deoir fola (EN: tear of blood); pailin féir (EN: grass pollen); sochaí faisnéise (EN: information society):
D’eagraigh an club oíche filíochta mar chuid den fhéile. |
The club organized a poetry night as part of the festival. |
Níl mórán taithí aige ar an teicneolaíocht faisnéise. |
He doesn’t have much experience with information technology. |
Note that beirt and dís are exceptions, and lenition is applied to a noun beginning with f after them, e.g., beirt fheirmeoirí (EN: two farmers); dís fhear (EN: two men).
The second noun is not lenited if it is in the genitive plural, e.g., rásaíocht gluaisrothar (EN: motorcycle(s) racing); saithe beach (EN: beach huts); scoil cailíní (EN: girls' school); scuaine gasúr (EN: boys' queue); sraith giorrúchán (EN: series of abbreviations); táin bó (EN: cattle driving); traein paisinéirí (EN: passenger(s') train):
Theastaigh uathu scoil buachaillí a bhunú san fhoirgneamh sin. |
They wanted to establish a boys' school in that building. |
Bhí scuaine gluaisteán trí mhíle ar fhad sa tranglam tráchta. |
There was a three-mile queue of cars in the traffic jam. |
Note that beirt and dís are exceptions, and lenition is applied to a noun in the genitive plural after them, e.g., beirt bhan (EN: two women); dís bhreithiúna (EN: two judges); and that the phrase clann mhac (EN: family of sons) is also an exception.
The second noun is not lenited if the first noun has an indefinite quantitative meaning, e.g., breis bainne (EN: excess of milk); díobháil céille (EN: lack of sense); easpa tobac (EN: lack of tobacco); iomarca cainte (EN: excess of talk); roinnt cáise (EN: some cheese):
An bhfuair sé barraíocht bia? |
Did he get an excess of food? |
Tá roinnt púdair fágtha. |
There is some powder left. |
The second noun is not lenited if it is (i) a person, (ii) an animal, (iii) a living thing, or (iv) a part of a person, animal or living thing —
aghaidh mná (EN: woman’s face); casóg buachalla (EN: boy’s coat); culaith garda (EN: guard’s uniform); lámh cailín (EN: girl’s hand); scian búistéara (EN: butcher’s knife); súil páiste (EN: child’s eye):
Cheannaigh sé casóg fir nua sa siopa. |
He bought a new men’s coat in the shop. |
Ba ghá dóibh leaba páiste a cheannach dá ngarmhac. |
They needed to buy a child’s bed for their grandson. |
adharc bó (EN: cow’s horn); cáis gabhair (EN: goat’s cheese); coiscéim coiligh (EN: rooster’s step); cos capaill (EN: horse’s foot); cráin muice (EN: sow); eitinn bólachta (EN: bovine tuberculosis); léim capaill (EN: horse’s jump); géimneach bó (EN: cow’s bellow); stail capaill (EN: stallion horse); ubh circe (EN: hen’s egg):
Chonaic mé cearc bradáin san uisce taobh leis an gcora éisc. |
I saw a salmon hen (female salmon) in the water next to the fish weir. |
Níor ith mé feoil capaill riamh. |
I have never eaten horse meat. |
cill planda (EN: plant cell); coirt crainn (EN: tree bark); péist cabáiste (EN: cabbage worm):
D’iarr sí ar na páistí duilleog cuilinn a tharraingt. |
She asked the children to draw a holly leaf. |
Ní mór fréamh toir a bhaint chun fáil réidh leis an tor. |
It is necessary to remove dock roots to get rid of the dock. |
foinse béil (EN: oral source); íde béil (EN: verbal abuse); ionga méire (EN: finger nail); péist goile (EN: stomach worm):
Chuir siad clib cluaise ar gach ainmhí. |
They put a ear tag on every animal. |
An bhfuil an ordóg coise do do chrá? |
Is your big toe sore? |
Note that beirt and dís are exceptions, and lenition is applied to a noun meaning person after them, e.g., beirt bhan (EN: two women); dís bhreithiúna (EN: two judges); and that lenition is applied to céile after a feminine noun, e.g., bean chéile (EN: wife); deirfiúr chéile (EN: sister-in-law).
The second noun is not lenited if the first noun is part of the second noun, e.g., beann píce (EN: point of a pike); cos cathaoireach (EN: chair leg); cluas cupáin (EN: cup handle); iall bróige (EN: shoe lace):
Is éasca lámh buicéid a bhriseadh. |
It is easy to break a bucket handle. |
Níor thuig sé conas an stiúir báid a úsáid. |
He did not understand how to use the boat rudder. |
The second noun is not lenited if it is a noun derived from an adjective that describes the first noun, e.g., áilleacht ceantair (EN: beauty of the area); airde balla (EN: height of the wall); breáthacht cathrach (EN: urban elegance); dílseacht pictiúir (EN: picture fidelity); finne maidine (EN: morning fairness); sábháilteacht bóthair (EN: road safety):
Ní mór d’eolaithe láidreacht cumaisc a thástáil sula ndíoltar é. |
It is necessary for scientists to test mixture strength before it is sold. |
Bunaíodh scéimeanna chun sábháilteacht bia a áirithiú. |
Schemes were established to ensure food safety. |
An indefinite noun after a verbal noun with the preposition ag before it is not lenited, e.g., ag sábháil comhaid (EN: saving a file); ag tiomáint bus (EN: driving a bus); ag tógáil balla (EN: building a wall):
Thosaigh sé ag cniotáil geansaí aréir. |
He started knitting a sweater last night. |
Is breá le Caoimhe a bheith ag seinm ceoil. |
Caoimhe loves playing music. |
Note that there are a small number of established exceptions, e.g., ag fáil bháis (EN: dying); ag gabháil fhoinn (EN: committing a crime).
An indefinite noun after a verbal noun or noun expressing an action is not lenited when the second noun is the object, e.g., athchúrsáil gloine (EN: glass recycling); forbairt pobail (EN: community development); láimhseáil ceimiceáin (EN: chemical handling); eisiúint preasráitis (EN: press release issuance):
Tabharfar aird ar oiliúint múinteoirí sa scéim nua. |
Attention will be paid to teacher training in the new scheme. |
Tá rialacha áirithe i gceist le hathchúrsáil páipéir. |
There are certain rules involved in paper recycling. |
The second noun is not lenited after the words aicme, comhairle, corparáid, cuideachta, earnáil, feidhmeannacht, foireann, gníomhaireacht, institiúid, oifig, rannóg, roinn, scéim, seirbhís, e.g., aicme ceannais (EN: leadership class); comhairle contae (EN: county council); corparáid baincéireachta (EN: banking corporation); earnáil gnó (EN: business sector); foireann bainistíochta (EN: management team); institiúid breisoideachais (EN: further education institution); oifig preasa (EN: press office); rannóg pearsanra (EN: personnel department); roinn cosanta (EN: defense division):
Ní foláir dóibh an scéim marcála a choigeartú. |
It is necessary for them to adjust the marking scheme. |
Cuireann an gnólacht seirbhís comhairleoireachta ar fáil. |
The company provides a consultancy service. |
The nouns dlí and sí are not lenited after a feminine noun, e.g., feidhm dlí (EN: legal function); bó sí (EN: fairy cow):
Cuirfidh an rialtas cóip den ionstraim dlí ar fáil. |
The government will provide a copy of the legal instrument. |
Deirtear gur comhartha an mhí-áidh an long sí a fheiceáil. |
It is said that seeing the phantom ship is a sign of bad luck. |
The second noun is not lenited if it is one of the precise units of measurement bliain, coicís, mí or seachtain, e.g., saoire míosa (EN: month’s holiday); tréimhse bliana (EN: year’s period); moill bliana (EN: year’s delay):
Cuireadh tús leis an bhféile seachtaine le hócáid i dteach an Mhéara. |
The week-long festival was launched with an event in the Mayor’s house. |
Bhí scíth coicíse de dhíth uirthi tar éis na hoibre. |
She needed a fortnight’s rest after the work. |
The second noun is not lenited if the second noun, which is in the genitive, is qualified by another noun or an adjective, e.g., oíche gaoithe móire (EN: stormy night); bileog páipéir dúigh (EN: sheet of ink paper); gloine beorach fuaraithe (EN: chilled beer glass):
Ní raibh deoir bainne úir fágtha sa teach. |
There was no fresh milk left in the house. |
Cuireadh an obair tionscadail aistriúcháin i gcrích inné. |
The translation project work was completed yesterday. |
Exception: when beirt or dís is the first noun, e.g., beirt bhan mhisniúla (EN: two brave women) or when beirt is the second noun, e.g., páistí bheirt bhan (EN: children of two women).
Note that, subject to the exceptions in (a) to (m) above, lenition is applied to every noun subject to a feminine noun, e.g., tuarascáil pharlaiminte agus chomhphobail (EN: parliamentary and community report). However, if there is a series of nouns in a list before another noun, the initial mutation associated with the last noun in the series is applied to the noun or nouns subject to it, e.g., leabhar nó iris cheoil (EN: music book or magazine); iris nó leabhar ceoil (EN: music magazine or book).
If a (non-definite) noun in the genitive is subject to a noun in the plural ending in a slender consonant, it is usually lenited, e.g., éin chlóis (EN: enclosed birds); dualgais bhreise (EN: additional duties); ceadúnais ghnó (EN: business licenses).
Bhí cruinniú aici le hoifigigh thithíochta as Meiriceá. |
She had a meeting with housing officials from America. |
Deir sé go bhfuil na leabhair ghramadaí uile léite aige. |
He says he has read all the grammar books. |
Is iad na maoir thráchta a eisíonn ticéid pháirceála. |
Traffic wardens issue parking tickets. |
Note that all the contexts in (a) to (f) below list the instances when an indefinite noun subject to a noun in the plural ending in a slender consonant is not lenited. In all other contexts, lenition is applied to an indefinite noun subject to a noun in the plural ending in a slender consonant.
Note: An example could be included in one or more of the following contexts, e.g., (a), (c) and (d) apply to the example dualgais dochtúirí (EN: duties of doctors).
The second noun is not lenited if the first noun ends in d, n, t, l or s and the second noun begins with d, t or s, e.g., báid seoil (EN: sailing boats); capaill seilge (EN: hunting horses); turais taighde (EN: research trips):
D’iarr an scéalaí ar na leanaí na focail draíochta a rá in éineacht léi. |
The storyteller asked the children to say the magic words along with her. |
D’úsáidtí pinn tobair nuair a bhí seisean ar scoil. |
Fountain pens were used when he was at school. |
The second noun is not lenited if it begins with f, e.g., beithígh feirme (EN: farm animals); botháin freastail (EN: service huts); buidéil fuisce (EN: whiskey bottles):
Tá cláir faisnéise nua á bhforbairt ag TG4. |
TG4 is developing new documentary programs. |
Ghlac deich gcinn de chumainn foirgníochta páirt sa suirbhé. |
Ten building societies took part in the survey. |
The second noun is not lenited if it is in the genitive plural, e.g., imill bóithre (EN: road edges); cnuasaigh dánta (EN: collections of poems):
Taitníonn na leabhair pictiúr sin leis na leanaí. |
The children like those picture books. |
Tá oifigigh seirbhísí á lorg ag an gcomhairle faoi láthair. |
The council is currently looking for service officers. |
The second noun is not lenited if it is (i) a person, (ii) an animal, (iii) a living thing, or (iv) a part of a person, animal or living thing, the second noun —
duáin cailín (EN: girl’s kidneys); buidéil páiste (EN: child’s bottles):
Tá cur síos ar na liúntais cúramóra ar an suíomh gréasáin. |
There is a description of the carer’s allowances on the website. |
Níor chóir pasfhocail múinteora a roinnt leis na daltaí riamh. |
Teacher passwords should never be shared with students. |
bréagáin madra (EN: dog toys); sciatháin circe (EN: chicken wings):
D’fhéadfadh adharcáin céadchosaigh a bheith chomh fada lena chorp. |
Centipede antennae could be as long as their body. |
Caitheadh amach na sliogáin bairnigh i ndiaidh an bhéile. |
The limpet shells were distributed after the meal. |
crainn beithe (EN: birch trees); peitil blátha (EN: flower petals):
Itheann an panda péacáin bambú. |
The panda eats bamboo shoots. |
Moladh do na heolaithe spóir beacán a bhailiú. |
Scientists were advised to collect mushroom spores. |
ailt méire (EN: finger joints); matáin coise (EN: leg muscles):
Díoltar cliatháin bagúin i siopa an bhúistéara. |
Sides of bacon are sold in the butcher’s shop. |
Bhí fáinní sna maotháin cluaise aige. |
He had rings in his ear lobes. |
The second noun is not lenited if the first noun is part of the second noun, e.g., cláir báid (EN: boat boards); méarchláir pianó (EN: piano keyboards):
Is ar na cabair tí a bhíonn meáchan an dín uile. |
It is on the house beams that the entire weight of the roof rests. |
Tá na scáileáin gutháin nua i bhfad níos mó ná mar a bhíodh. |
The new phone screens are much larger than they used to be. |
The second noun is not lenited if the second noun, which is in the genitive, is qualified by another noun or an adjective, e.g., cláir dioplóma iarchéime (EN: postgraduate diploma boards); cláir deice báid (EN: boat deck boards):
Ní mór beartais cosanta sonraí na cuideachta a nuashonrú. |
It is necessary to update the company’s data protection policies. |
Réiteoidh na hoifigigh teicneolaíochta faisnéise an fhadhb. |
The information technology officers will resolve the problem. |
Exception: when beirt is the second noun, e.g., gluaisteáin bheirt pheileadóirí (EN: two football players' cars).
Note that, subject to the exceptions in (a) to (f) above, lenition is applied to every noun subject to a noun in the plural ending in a slender consonant, e.g., comórtais idir-ollscoile chadhcála agus bhoghdóireachta (EN: inter-university competitions in kayaking and archery); páipéir bhainc agus pharlaiminte (EN: bank and parliamentary papers); limistéir pleanála teanga Ghaeltachta (EN: Gaeltacht language planning areas). However, if there is a series of nouns in a list before another noun, the initial mutation associated with the last noun in the series is applied to the noun or nouns subject to it, e.g., treoracha nó leabhair ghramadaí (EN: grammar guides or books); leabhair nó treoracha gramadaí (EN: grammar books or guides).
An indefinite noun subject to a noun in the genitive is not lenited, e.g., bord údaráis creidiúnúcháin (EN: accreditation authority board); síniú an choinbhinsiúin cóipchirt (EN: signing of the copyright convention); suíomh an chruinnithe mullaigh (EN: location of the summit meeting); bord coláiste gairmoideachais (EN: vocational college board); trasna na sráide cathrach (EN: across the city street):
Is i dteach an tsagairt paróiste a bhí an cruinniú. |
The meeting was in the parish priest’s house. |
Bhí sé ag fanacht ag doras an tí tábhairne. |
He was waiting at the pub’s door. |
Lenition is applied to a definite noun in the genitive following another noun, e.g., Cuan Bhaile Átha Cliath (EN: Dublin Bay); foireann Dhoire (EN: Derry team); muintir Sheáin (EN: Seán’s people); oibrithe Bhéal Feirste (EN: Belfast workers); mac fhear an tábhairne (EN: the pub owner’s son); obair bhean an tí (EN: the housewife’s work).
Note that lenition is applied to a definite noun even when d, t or s follows d, n, t, l or s, e.g., foireann Dhoire (EN: Derry team); riail Shasana (EN: English rule); doras Theach an Phiarsaigh (EN: Pearse’s House door); luas thraein an iarthair (EN: the west train’s speed):
Dúirt siad gur fhreastail siad ar Choláiste Cholmáin. |
They said they attended St. Colman’s College. |
Tá poll i ndíon shiopa an bhúistéara. |
There is a hole in the butcher’s shop. |
But lenition is not applied —
to the following nouns:
Dé (Dia in the genitive), e.g., lámh Dé (EN: the hand of God); trócaire Dé (EN: the mercy of God):
Tá leabhar faoi Mhuire, Máthair Dé, scríofa aige. |
The book about Mary, Mother of God, is written by him. |
San or the name it denotes, e.g., Ord San Proinsias (EN: Order of St. Francis); Lá San Svaítín (EN: St. Valentine’s Day); Lá San Seáin (EN: St. John’s Day):
Is i mBaile Átha Cliath atá paróiste San Caitríona. |
The parish of St. Catherine is in Dublin. |
Dé in the days of the week, e.g., oíche Dé Máirt (EN: Tuesday night); tráthnóna Dé Céadaoin (EN: Wednesday afternoon):
Sroichfidh siad an Fhrainc maidin Dé Sathairn. |
They will reach France on Saturday morning. |
to a definite noun that comes after the following nouns:
Féile in the genitive, e.g., Lá Fhéile Pádraig (EN: St. Patrick’s Day); Samhradh beag na Féile Michíl (EN: Michaelmas):
Is ar Lá Fhéile Bríde a rugadh í. |
She was born on St. Brigid’s Day. |
Naomh, e.g., cuimhneachán Naomh Peadar (EN: St. Peter’s Memorial); Naomh Pól (EN: St. Paul):
Bhí siad ag imirt i gcoinne Scoil Naomh Fionnbarra. |
They were playing against St. Finbar’s School. |
to a verbal noun whose object is a definite noun, e.g., madra cosanta na monarcha (EN: the dog guarding the factory); bean fuascailte na ceiste (EN: the woman answering the question); beach cealgtha an pháiste (EN: the bee stinging the child); innill buailte an arbhair (EN: the machines striking the grain); seachtain bailithe na rátaí (EN: the week of rate collection) (see 3.3.1(a)).
Lenition is applied to the noun after Mhic, Mhig, Ní, Nic, Uí in surnames, e.g., Bean Mháirtín Uí Bhroin; Isibéal Nig Fhloinn; Siobhán Ní Chonchúir; Úna Nic Shuibhne; and after Mac (Mag) in certain surnames, e.g., Mac Pháidín; Mag Fhinn:
Ar bhuail tú riamh le Gobnait Ní Dhúill? |
Have you ever met Gobnait Ní Dhúill? |
Bhí scéal de chuid Phádraic Uí Chonaire á léamh aici. |
She was reading a story by Pádraic Uí Chonaire. |
Note that c and g are not lenited after Mhic or Nic, e.g., teach Sheáin Mhic Cárthaigh:
An bhfaca tú carr Phóil Mhic Cearáin? |
Have you seen Pól Mhic Cearáin's car? |
Ní raibh Sorcha Nic Gearailt i láthair. |
Sorcha Nic Gearailt was not present. |
The second word in a compound word is lenited, e.g., dea-cháil (EN: good reputation), deargbhuile (EN: stark madness), rósghairdín (EN: rose garden), sárdhuine (EN: extraordinary person), except when d, n, t, l or s come together, e.g., antráth (EN: inopportune time), catsúil (EN: sidelong glance), clostrácht (EN: hearsay), galltrumpa (EN: clarion), ilsiolla (EN: multi-syllable), leasdeartháir (EN: stepbrother), seansaighdiúir (EN: veteran soldier).
Cuireadh an dramhpháipéar i leataobh lena athchúrsáil. |
The waste paper was set aside for recycling. |
Is é cúldoras an tí a úsáideann siad i gcónaí. |
The back door is the one the house always uses. |
Tá carrchlós díreach in aice leis an mbunscoil. |
The car park is right next to the primary school. |
Note: The second word in a compound word is not lenited after an- (the emphatic prefix) when d, t or s follow it, e.g., An-duine is ea é (EN: He is a great person); Bhí an-dea-aimsir ann an samhradh sin (EN: There was very good weather that summer); An-drochrud a bhí sa bhean sin (EN: There was a very bad thing in that woman) (see 2.1.7).
Lenition is applied to the noun following the copula in the indicative mood, past tense and past habitual tense, and in the conditional mood, e.g., Ba dhuine mór é (EN: He was a great person); Ar shagart é? (EN: Was he a priest?); Níor dhochtúir é (EN: He was not a doctor); Nár cheoltóir maith é? (EN: Was he not a good musician?); Is dóigh leis gur ghadaí a bhí ann (EN: He thinks he was a thief); Dúirt sí gurbh fhiú labhairt léi (EN: She said it was worth talking to her); Deir sé nár dhochar é (EN: He says it was not harmful); cér chás é (ach) (EN: What matter (but)); dá mba chailín í (EN: If she were a girl); fear dar shloinne Ó Murchú (EN: A man named Ó Murchú); má ba bhithiúnach é (EN: If he were a scoundrel); murar bhréag é (EN: If it were not a lie) (see Chapter 7):
Ba mheicneoir í nuair a bhí sí óg. |
She was a mechanic when she was young. |
Ba mhian liom dul ann am éigin. |
I would like to go there sometime. |
Lenition is applied to the adjective in the following contexts.
The initial consonant of a qualifying adjective is lenited —
after a noun in the nominative, dative or vocative singular feminine, e.g., bean mhór (EN: a big woman); don bhean mhór (EN: to the big woman); a bhean mhór (EN: o big woman):
Ceannaíonn sé feoil bhlasta i gcónaí. |
He always buys tasty meat. |
Fan taobh thiar den líne bhuí. |
Stay behind the yellow line. |
Note that lenition is not applied to multi-word adjectival phrases, e.g., athnuachan saor in aisce (EN: free renewal); bean mór le rá (EN: a well-known woman); tuarascáil cothrom le dáta (EN: an up-to-date report) (see 4.3.8).
after a noun in the genitive or vocative singular masculine, e.g., mac fir mhóir (EN: son of a big man); a fhir mhóir (EN: o big man):
Ar bhuail tú le húinéir an chapaill ghlais? |
Have you met the owner of the grey horse? |
Dán leis an bPiarsach is ea A Éin Bhig. |
The poem A Éin Bhig is by Pearse. |
after a noun in the nominative or dative plural, if the noun ends in a slender consonant, e.g., fir mhóra (EN: big men); do na fir mhóra (EN: to the big men) (exception: caora (EN: sheep) in the nominative plural, e.g., caoirigh beaga/bána/móra, etc. (EN: small/white/big sheep)):
Ní mór lipéid shothuigthe a chur ar earraí glantacháin. |
Labels for perishable goods must be affixed. |
Bhí scamaill mhóra dhubha sa spéir. |
There were large black clouds in the sky. |
Note that the grammatical link is broken by brackets, e.g., gnóthais (beag nó mór) (EN: businesses (small or large)).
for numbers:
after a noun preceded by dá or dhá, e.g., dhá bhó bhána (EN: two white cows); luach an dá bhó bhána (EN: the value of the two white cows); an dá leabhar déag mhóra (EN: the twelve big books); dhá fhuinneog mhóra is tríocha (EN: thirty-two big windows); dhá cheann mhóra is ceathracha (EN: forty-two big items):
Fuair sé dhá ghadhar fhíochmhara. |
He got two fierce hounds. |
Ní mór doirse an dá theach bheaga a chur faoi ghlas. |
The doors of the two small houses must be locked. |
after a noun in the singular preceded by a number from three to ten, e.g., trí (ceithre, cúig, sé) bhád mhóra (EN: three (four, five, six) big boats); seacht (ocht, naoi, deich) gcapall mhóra (EN: seven (eight, nine, ten) big horses); trí (ceithre, cúig, sé) fhuinneog déag mhóra (EN: three (four, five, six) big windows); seacht (ocht, naoi, deich) mbád déag mhóra (EN: seven (eight, nine, ten) big boats); ocht gcéad nócha is naoi mbád bheaga (EN: eight hundred and ninety-nine small boats); lucht na dtrí (gceithre, etc.) bhád mhóra (EN: the people of the three (four, etc.) big boats); ainmneacha na seacht (n-ocht, etc.) gcapall mhóra (EN: the names of the seven (eight, etc.) big horses):
Cheannaigh sí trí leabhar fhada dá laethanta saoire. |
She bought three long books for her holidays. |
Taispeánadh deich scannán cháiliúla le linn na féile. |
Ten famous films were shown during the festival. |
after the plural form cinn when preceded by a number from trí to deich, e.g., trí cinn dhubha (EN: three black ones); cúig cinn mhóra is seasca (EN: sixty-five big ones):
D’aimsigh sí trí cinn fholmha sa chuardach. |
She found three empty ones in the search. |
in the masculine dative singular, if the Lenition System is being used (see 1.7).
When an adjective precedes a noun —
the adjective is lenited after a simple preposition, after a simple preposition and the definite article, and after a possessive adjective in the same way as the noun is lenited, e.g., ar thrí euro (EN: for three euros); don cheathrú bean (EN: to the fourth woman); mo shéú hubh (EN: my sixth egg) (see 9.5.1):
Déanfar é laistigh de cheithre mhí. |
It will be done within four months. |
Thug siad don chúigiú cuairteoir é. |
They gave it to the fifth visitor. |
Ba é a thríú hiarracht é. |
It was his third attempt. |
the numeral in the genitive case is lenited in the same way as a masculine noun, e.g., doras an cheathrú seomra (EN: the door of the fourth room), but f is not lenited, e.g., i dtrátha an fichiú lá (EN: at the time of the twentieth day) (see 9.5.4(d))
Chuaigh bróga an chúigiú girseach amú. |
The shoes of the fifth girl got lost. |
Bhí bia an fichiú fear le dáileadh fós. |
The food of the twentieth man was still to be distributed. |
Note that lenition is not applied to —
the ordinal number in the nominative case, except céad (see 9.5.1(b)), e.g., an tríú duine (EN: the third person); an cúigiú bean (EN: the fifth woman); ach an chéad áit (EN: but the first place); na chéad chéimeanna (EN: the first steps):
Is tusa an ceathrú duine a chuir an cheist sin orm. |
You are the fourth person to ask me that question. |
Bhain sí an séú háit amach sa rás. |
She achieved the sixth place in the race. |
cibé, gach or pé:
Ní foláir é a chríochnú laistigh de cibé tréimhse a cheadóidh an tAire. |
It must be completed within any period allowed by the Minister. |
Ba cheart do gach institiúid a rialacha slándála féin a urramú. |
All institutions should respect their own safety rules. |
Níor fhéad sé cur síos a dhéanamh ar pé rud a bhí ag cur isteach air. |
He could not describe any thing that was bothering him. |
the possessive adjectives mo and do, e.g., ar mo mhála (EN: on my bag); faoi do chara (EN: about your friend):
Rachadh sé trí do chroí. |
He would go through your heart. |
Chonaic mé é ar do shuíomh gréasáin. |
I saw it on your website. |
The adjectives dhá and dháréag are lenited, e.g., mo dhá bhróg (EN: my two shoes); bhí dháréag i láthair (EN: twelve were present); except after the definite article (an, don, sa, etc.), aon and chéad, e.g., an dá áit (EN: the two places); gach aon dá uair an chloig (EN: every two hours); an chéad dá bhliain (EN: the first two years); an Dáréag Aspal (EN: the Twelve Apostles); gach aon dáréag acu (EN: every twelve of them); an chéad dáréag a cháiligh (EN: the first twelve to qualify); Cogadh an Dá Aodh (EN: The War of the Two Aodhs).
Chaith siad dhá uair an chloig ann. |
They spent two hours there. |
Roghnaigh siad dháréag chun bheith páirteach sa chomórtas. |
They chose twelve to participate in the competition. |
Bhí an dá bhronntanas oscailte aici. |
The two gifts were open. |
Cén treoir a tugadh don dáréag ar an ngiúiré? |
What instructions were given to the twelve on the jury? |
Lenition is applied to déag after dó and after a singular noun ending in a vowel, e.g., trí bhó dhéag (EN: thirteen cows); cúig lá dhéag (EN: fifteen days); except in the ordinal numbers (see 9.5.2(e)). Fichead is lenited after a noun in the slender plural, e.g., trí cinn fhichead (EN: sixty).
Fuair sé bus uimhir a dó dhéag. |
He got bus number twelve (two ten). |
Mhair an cúrsa seacht mí dhéag. |
The course lasted seventeen months. |
Seacht gcinn fhichead de ghearrscéalta atá sa chnuasach. |
There are twenty seven short stories in the collection. |
The second word in a compound word is lenited, e.g., beagmhaith (EN: useless), fíordheas (EN: truly nice), except when d, t or s follow d, n, t, l or s, e.g., antrom (EN: oppression), bándearg (EN: pink), caolsrónach (EN: narrow-nosed), casdubh (EN: black-footed), fadsaolach (EN: long-lived), ildánach (EN: multi-talented), ilteangach (EN: multilingual).
Rinne siad staidéar ar ábhar leathsheoltach mar chuid den rang fisice. |
They studied semiconductor material as part of the physics class. |
Fuair sé íocaíocht ollmhór as an obair sin. |
He received a great-big payment for that work. |
Ba léir go raibh sí lánsásta lena céad lá sa phost. |
It was clear that she was very happy with her first day at work. |
Lenition is applied to the adjective following the copula in the indicative mood, past tense and past habitual tense, and in the conditional mood, e.g., Ba dheas uait é (EN: It was nice of you); Ar mhaith leat é? (EN: Would you like it?); Níor bheag an gaisce é (EN: It was no small feat); Nár dhona an lá é? (EN: Wasn’t it a bad day?); B’fhéidir nár chneasta uaim é (EN: Perhaps it wasn’t kind of me); Dá mba mhaith leat teacht, bheadh fáilte romhat (EN: If you would like to come, you would be welcome); má ba shaibhir an fear é (EN: if the man were rich) (see Chapter 7).
Dúirt sé gur mhór an leas dó é. |
He said that it was a great benefit to him. |
Murarbh fhíor é, níor cheart a leithéid a rá. |
If it were not true, it is not right to say such a thing. |
The independent verb is lenited —
in the indicative mood, past tense and past habitual tense, and in the conditional mood, e.g., mhol mé (mhol tú, etc.) (EN: I praised), mholainn (mholtá, etc.) (EN: I used to praise), mholfainn, (mholfá, etc.) (EN: I would praise), mholtaí (EN: used to be praised), mholfaí (EN: would be praised):
Shábháil sí go leor airgid. |
She saved a lot of money. |
Théidís ann gach lá. |
They would go there every day. |
Chuideodh sé leat dá gcuirfeá ceist air. |
He would help you if you asked him. |
after a, direct relative, and after the conjunctions má and ó:
Is í sin an bhean a ghlanfaidh an áit. |
That is the woman who will clean the place. |
An bhfaca tú an gluaisteán a thiomáineann sí? |
Did you see the car that she drives? |
Má bhíonn sé ann tabhair leat é. |
If he is there, bring it with you. |
Ó chuir tú i mo cheann é níor smaoinigh mé ar rud ar bith eile. |
Since you put it in my head, I haven’t thought about anything else. |
in the affirmative clause functioning as a noun with the copula in forms such as Is ann a chonaic mé é (EN: It is there that I saw him); Is leis a bheidh mé (EN: It is his that I will be):
Is sa siopa sin a cheannaíonn sé a chuid éadaí. |
It is in that shop that he buys his clothes. |
Is ar líne a chraolfar é. |
It is online that it will be broadcast. |
But, note —
Outside certain irregular verbs — bhíothas (EN: aut. to be), chonacthas (EN: was seen), chualathas (EN: was heard), chuathas (EN: was gone), thángthas (EN: was come) — the autonomous verb in the past tense is not lenited, e.g., Buaileadh go dona iad (EN: They were badly beaten); an geall a briseadh (EN: the pledge to be broken):
Ní raibh sé sa bhaile ó fuarthas ciontach é. |
He was not at home since he was found guilty. |
Ba leis a cailleadh é. |
He was whose loss it was. |
The verb abair is not lenited in any context:
Dúirt siad go mbeidís ann. |
They said they would be there. |
Cad a déarfaidh tú léi? |
What will you say to her? |
Má deir sí nach bhfuil suim aici ann, ná bí buartha faoi. |
If she says she is not interested, don’t worry about it. |
The dependent verb is lenited after the conjunctions and verbal particles ar, cár, dár, gur, murar, nár, ní, níor, sular:
Ar chuir sé i bhfolach é? |
Did he put it in hiding? |
Cár ghoirtigh sé é féin? |
Where did he hurt himself? |
Gach duine dár chuir tú in aithne dom. |
Everyone that you introduced to me. |
Sílim gur thuig sé mé. |
I think that he understood me. |
Murar mharaigh sé é chuaigh sé gairid dó. |
If he had not killed him, he would have been short of him. |
Nár phós sé riamh? |
Did he never marry? |
Ní fhaca sé mé. |
Did not he see me? |
Níor fhéad mé é a dhéanamh. |
Could not I do it. |
Bhí mise anseo sular tháinig Seán. |
I was here before Seán came. |
But, note:
that the verb faigh is eclipsed in the dependent form in the past tense, future tense and conditional mood after the verbal particle ní, e.g., Ní bhfuair tú ansin iad (EN: You did not get them there); Ní bhfaighinn aon chabhair uathu (EN: I will not get any help from them) (see 10.8.2(b)).
that the verb abair is not lenited in any context, e.g., Ní déarfadh aon duine gur theip ort (EN: No one would say that you failed).
The demonstrative pronominal sin is lenited after the preposition ó in the phrase ó shin (i leith).
Bhisigh an aimsir ó shin. |
The weather changed since then. |
Tharla sé tamall maith ó shin. |
It happened quite a while since then. |
The interrogative pronominals cá, cad, cé, etc., are not lenited:
Thug sé tuairisc ar cé a bhí i láthair. |
He gave a report on who was present. |
Níor thrácht sé ar cad a bhí le déanamh. |
He did not mention what was to be done. |
The eclipsed consonants are: b, c, d, f, g, p and t. A vowel is prefixed with n- where an eclipsis would be applied to a consonant, except in the dative case after the article or the article composed with a preposition, e.g., ar an uisce (EN: on the water), faoin ábhar (EN: under the matter); and with i (see 10.6.4). A hyphen is placed between the eclipsing n and a vowel, e.g., líon na n‑ospidéal (EN: the number of hospitals); except when the vowel is a proper noun, e.g., meon na nAlbanach (EN: the mind of the Scots).
Eclipsis is applied to the noun in the following contexts.
Eclipsis is applied to the noun after the article —
in the dative singular, masculine and feminine, in certain contexts when a preposition accompanies the article, e.g., ar an gcapall (EN: on the horse); faoin bhfoirgneamh (EN: under the building) (see 1.4):
Fuair sé teachtaireacht bhuíochais ón mbrídeach. |
He received a thank-you message from the bride. |
Chuir siad fáilte roimh an gcuairteoir. |
They welcomed the visitor. |
Note that there is always eclipsis in the phrases mar an gcéanna (EN: the same way) and um an dtaca (EN: in support of).
in the genitive plural, masculine and feminine, e.g., seolta na mbád beag (EN: the sails of the small boats); scoil na gcailíní óga (EN: the school of the young girls):
Bhí ceol na n‑éan le cloisteáil ar fud na coille. |
The music of the birds was to be heard throughout the forest. |
Tá siad ag maisiú na dtithe roimh theacht an tsamhraidh. |
They are decorating the houses before the arrival of summer. |
Eclipsis is applied to the noun after the possessive adjectives in the plural, e.g., ár n‑athair (EN: our father); bhur bpáistí (EN: your children); a ngluaisteáin (EN: their cars):
Bhuail mé le bhur gcairde ag an mbainis. |
I met your friends at the wedding. |
Deirtear gurb iad a gcácaí siúd na cácaí is deise dá bhfuil ann. |
It is said that their cakes are the best there are. |
Note that eclipsis is used after dhá if there is a possessive adjective in the plural before it, e.g., ár dhá gcapall (EN: our two horses); ár dhá gcúigiú cuid (EN: our two fifths); bhur dhá dteach (EN: your two houses); a dhá mbó (EN: their two cows) (see 8.3.3).
Eclipsis is applied to the noun after the cardinal numbers seacht to deich, e.g., seacht ndícheall (EN: seven efforts); ocht gcinn (EN: eight heads); naoi mbliana (EN: nine years); deich n‑eachtra (EN: ten events) (see 9.3.1(i)):
Cuirfear tús le seacht gclár faisnéise nua Dé Luain seo chugainn. |
A new seven-part documentary series will begin next Monday. |
Chonaic sé naoi n‑éan sa spéir. |
He saw nine birds in the sky. |
No initial mutation is made to the nouns euro and cent, e.g., seacht euro (EN: seven euros); naoi euro (EN: nine euros); deich cent (EN: ten cents).
Note:
that the initial mutation that accompanies the final number in a series is applied to the word or words that follow it, e.g., sé nó seacht mbád (EN: six or seven boats);
if the Simplified System is used above twenty (see 9.3.10 – 9.3.12), no eclipsis is applied to the noun, e.g., fiche a seacht capall (EN: twenty-seven horses); 49 fuinneog (EN: 49 windows).
Eclipsis is applied to the noun after the following simple prepositions —
i, e.g., i mbaile (EN: in a town); i bpáirc (EN: in a park); i mBaile an Fheirtéaraigh (EN: in Ballyferriter):
Bhí sé i bpriacal a anama. |
He was in a spiritual crisis. |
Is i mBéal Átha an Ghaorthaidh a bunaíodh Coláiste na Mumhan. |
It is in Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh that Munster College was founded. |
in is written before words beginning with a vowel, e.g., in eaglais (EN: in a church); in Albain (EN: in Scotland); in Áth Dara (EN: in Athy); in Éirinn (EN: in Ireland); in aon chás (EN: in any case); and in the following contexts:
before bhur, dhá and go leor, e.g., an áit a bhfuil sibh in bhur gcónaí (EN: the place of your residence); in dhá áit (EN: in two places); in go leor cásanna (EN: in many cases):
Chuir mé in bhur gcistin é. |
I put it in your kitchen. |
Tá an grúpa ceoil ar an ngearrliosta in dhá chomórtas. |
The music group is on the shortlist in two competitions. |
before book titles, magazines or films, etc., and before abbreviations of titles of organizations, agreements, schemes, etc., e.g., in An tOileánach; alt in Comhar; in AE; in CAE; in FSS (but see 3.2.2B):
Léigh mé alt suimiúil in Feasta an mhí seo caite. |
I read an interesting article in Feasta last month. |
Cá mhéad stát atá in SAM? |
How many states are there in the USA? |
These are foreign place names that have not been Gaelicized, e.g., in Birmingham; in Barcelona; in Köln (but i Londain, i mBostún):
Chaith sí seachtain ag obair in Mumbai. |
She spent a week working in Mumbai. |
Thuirling an t‑eitleán in San Francisco ar a sé a chlog ar maidin. |
The plane landed in San Francisco at six o’clock in the morning. |
before years when they are written in figures, e.g., in 1998; in 2017.
ar in idiomatic expressions, e.g., ar gcúl (EN: backwards); ar ndóigh (EN: of course); and after the preposition go (when it does not mean go dtí (EN: to)), e.g., go bhfios dom (EN: how would I know); go gcuimhin liom (EN: as far as I remember):
Níl lámh ar gcúl againn. |
We do not have a hand behind our back. (meaning have a disadvantage) |
Cath go ndíth ab ea é, gan aon agó. |
It was a fight to the finish, without any doubt. |
Eclipsis is applied to the noun in the established phrase cá bhfios.
Cá bhfios dom? |
How would I know? |
Eclipsis is applied to an adjective that precedes a noun in the same way as the noun is eclipsed (see 10.6). That is to say, the adjective is eclipsed after the article in the dative singular in certain contexts, e.g., ar an gceathrú hurlár (EN: on the fourth floor); in the genitive plural, e.g., i rith na gcúig oíche (EN: during the five nights); after the possessive adjectives in the plural, e.g., ár gcéad mhac (EN: our first son); and after the preposition i, e.g., i ngach leabhar (EN: in every book).
Cá bhfuil bhur dtríú haiste don tionscadal? |
Where is your third essay for the project? |
Rinne sí scéal mhadra na n‑ocht gcos as. |
She told a story about a dog of eight legs. |
Moladh cruinnithe a thionól i ngach contae. |
A meeting was proposed to be held in every county. |
Note that no eclipsis is applied to:
cibé, pé, nor the possessive adjective do, e.g., i cibé foirm (EN: in whatever form); i pé páipéar (EN: in whichever paper); i do mhála (EN: in your bag):
Foilseoidh an Chomhairle an clár i cibé formáid is cuí léi. |
The Council will publish the program in whatever format it deems appropriate. |
Coimeádfar é i pé oifig is mian leat. |
It will be kept in whichever office you want. |
adjective following a noun, e.g., cumann na bhfear óg (EN: the association of young men); seolta na mbád dubh (EN: the sails of the black boats).
Eclipsis is applied to the verb in the following contexts.
Eclipsis is applied to the verb in the relative clause after —
a, indirect relative, and nach, e.g., an bainne nach n‑óltar (EN: the milk that is not drunk); an bhean a dtagann a páistí ar scoil (EN: the woman whose children come to school); an duine a gcáintear é (EN: the person who is fined); an duine nach gcáintear é (EN: the person who is not fined); an fear nach gcuirtear cúram air (EN: the man who is not cared for):
Is í sin an bhean nach dtagann a páistí ar scoil. |
She is the woman whose children do not come to school. |
Is é sin an fear a dtugtar aire dó san ionad cónaithe. |
That is the man who is given care in the residential center. |
a preposition composed with a, indirect relative (see 11.6.1(c)), e.g., an tAcht dá (from do+a) dtagraítear (EN: the Act to which reference is made); an Bille lena (from le+a) ndéantar leasú (EN: the Bill to which amendment is made):
Is é sin an chuideachta óna bhfuair mé mo théacsleabhair. |
That is the company from which I got my textbooks. |
Is é sin an t‑ainm faoina ndíolann sé earraí ar líne. |
That is the name under which he sells goods online. |
a (meaning an méid a (EN: the amount that)) and dá (from de+a, do+a), e.g., d’ólfadh sé a bhfeicfeadh sé (EN: he would drink whatever he saw); gach aon duine dá dtagann ann (EN: every person who comes there); gach áit dá ndéantar tagairt (EN: every place that is referred to):
Tá a dteastódh uait i mbanna ceoil acu. |
They have whatever you would need in a band. |
Beidh gach duine dá dtabharfar cuireadh ann. |
Everyone who is invited will be there. |
Eclipsis is applied to the verb after conjunctions and verbal particles —
an, cá, dá (conditional), go, mura, nach, sula:
An mbeidh cupán tae agat? |
Do you have a cup of tea? |
Cá dtéann an bóthar seo? |
Where does this road go? |
Dá mbeadh an t‑airgead aige, chaithfeadh sé é. |
If he had the money, he would spend it. |
Abair leis go bhféadfaidh sé imeacht. |
Tell him that he can leave. |
Mura n‑inseoidh tú an scéal, cuirfidh mé ceist ar dhuine éigin eile! |
If you do not tell the story, I will ask someone else! |
Nach n‑ólann sé bainne? |
Does he not drink milk? |
Ní mór é a chríochnú sula dtiocfaidh sé. |
It must be finished before he comes. |
But the n- is not placed before a vowel after the particle an, e.g., An ólann tú tae? (EN: Do you drink tea?); An itheann tú feoil? (EN: Do you eat meat?); An athróidh tú é? (EN: Will you change it?):
An éisteann sé le ceol agus é ag staidéar? |
Does he listen to music while studying? |
An osclóidh tú an oifig maidin amárach? |
Will you open the office tomorrow morning? |
ní, in the dependent form of the verb faigh in the past tense, future tense and conditional mood, e.g., ní bhfuair mé (tú, etc.) (EN: I did not get); ní bhfaighidh mé (tú, etc.) (EN: I will not get); ní bhfaighinn (bhfaighfeá, etc.) (EN: I would not get):
Ní bhfuair mé aon chaife ar maidin. |
I did not get any coffee this morning. |
Mura n‑iarrfaidh tú é ní bhfaighidh tú é. |
If you do not ask for it, you will not get it. |
Ní bhfaighfeá san ollmhargadh sin é. |
You would not get it in that supermarket. |
A hyphen is placed between the initial letter t and a vowel, e.g., an t‑ospidéal (EN: the hospital); except when the vowel is a proper noun initial, e.g., an tAlbanach (EN: the Scot). A hyphen is never placed between the initial letter t and s, e.g., an tsatailít (EN: the satellite); an tSeapáin (EN: Japan).
t- is placed before a vowel after the article —
in the nominative singular, before a masculine noun if it begins with a vowel, e.g., an t‑asal (EN: the donkey); an t‑eitleán (EN: the airplane):
Cá bhfuair tú an t‑airgead? |
Where did you get the money? |
Bhí eagla orthu go ndéanfaí an t‑éiceachóras a scriosadh. |
They were afraid that the ecosystem would be destroyed. |
Note that t- is not placed before euro, iomad, or oiread, e.g., an euro (EN: the euro); an iomad (EN: the many); an oiread (EN: the amount).
in the nominative singular, before aon, aonú, ochtó, ochtódú, ochtú, e.g., an t‑aon bhean déag (EN: the eleven women); an t‑aonú háit déag (EN: the eleventh place); an t‑ochtó bliain (EN: the eightieth year); an t‑ochtódú huair (EN: the eightieth time):
Is tusa an t‑aon duine ar labhair mé leis faoin scéal. |
You are the only person I spoke to about the matter. |
B’in é an t‑ochtú cluiche aici i mbliana. |
It was the eighth game she had this year. |
t is placed before s after the article if a vowel or l, n or r is the initial letter in certain contexts after the article according to Chapter 1, e.g., an tslat (EN: the stick); an tsnaidhm (EN: the knot); an tsreang (EN: the string); ar an tsráid (EN: on the street); faoin tsinsearacht (EN: under the ancestry); deireadh an tséasúir (EN: the end of the season); eochair an tsiopadóra (EN: the shopkeeper’s key); cótaí an tseachtair (EN: the coats of the seven).
Ná bain an tsrón díom! |
Don’t take the nose from me! (Meaning: Don’t bite my nose off!) |
An bhfaca tú eireaball an tsionnaigh? |
Did you see the tail of the squirrel? |
t is not placed before s —
in numbers, e.g., deireadh an seachtú lá (EN: the end of the seventh day); agallamh an seascadú duine (EN: the interview of the seventh person), except in personal numbers in the genitive, e.g., ainmneacha an tseisir (EN: the names of the six); torthaí an tseisear scoláirí (EN: the results of the six students):
Cad a fuair tú i dteannta an seasca euro? |
What did you get along with the sixty euros? |
Labhair sé faoi ghéarchéim an séú haois déag. |
He spoke about the crisis of the sixteenth century. |
after aon and the ordinal céad, e.g., aon salann (EN: any salt); aon seanmóir (EN: any sermon); an chéad sagart (EN: the first priest):
An bhfuil aon saill sa bhia sin? |
Is there any fat in that food? |
Is í seo an chéad saoire a bheidh againn le chéile. |
This is the first holiday we will have together. |
A hyphen is not placed between the initial letter h and a vowel, e.g., le háthas (EN: with joy); go hÉirinn (EN: to Ireland); na húlla (EN: the apples). h is placed before a vowel in the following contexts.
h is placed before a noun beginning with a vowel after the article na —
in the genitive singular feminine, e.g., ainm na háite (EN: the name of the place); lár na heitilte (EN: the center of the flight):
Foilsíodh leabhar nua faoi stair na hUachtaránachta. |
A new book about the history of the Presidency was published. |
Bhí glacadh forleathan leis an tuairim sin faoi dheireadh na haoise seo caite. |
There was widespread acceptance of that opinion about the end of this age last past. |
in the nominative plural and the dative plural, e.g., na hainmneacha (EN: the names); sna hionaid sin (EN: in those places):
Tá na huimhreacha go léir ar eolas aige. |
He knows all the numbers. |
Cliceáil faoi dhó ar na híomhánna chun iad a mhéadú. |
Double-click on the images to enlarge them. |
h is placed before a noun beginning with a vowel after the ordinal numbers, e.g., an dara (tríú, etc.) heochair (EN: the second (third, etc.) key); except céad, e.g., sa chéad áit (EN: in the first place); an chéad obráid (EN: the first work).
Déanaigí an ceathrú halt a léamh roimh rang an lae amárach. |
Please read the fourth article before class tomorrow. |
Tá an t‑ochtú heagrán den iris ar fáil anois. |
The eighth edition of the magazine is now available. |
h is placed before hour after trí, ceithre, cúig, sé, e.g., trí (ceithre, cúig, sé) huaire (EN: three (four, five, six) hours) (see 9.3.2(c)).
Theip uirthi trí huaire as a chéile. |
She failed three times in a row. |
Tá sé déanta aige sé huaire anois. |
He has done it six times now. |
Note that the specific plural form of the noun uair is not used when referring to a unit of 60 minutes, e.g., Thóg sé trí uair an chloig orm an obair a chríochnú (EN: It took him three hours to finish the work).
h is placed before a noun beginning with a vowel after the prepositions le and go (meaning go dtí (EN: to)), e.g., ó mhaidin go hoíche (EN: from morning to night); le hintinn mhaith (EN: with good intention); le hÁine (EN: with Áine); go hAlasca (EN: to Alaska).
Is ar an mbád a chuaigh sí go hÁrainn. |
It was on the boat that she went to Aran. |
Chuaigh siad ar stailc i bpáirt le hoibrithe eile. |
They went on strike in part with other workers. |
h is placed before a noun beginning with a vowel after the interrogative pronominal cá, e.g., cá hiontas? (EN: what surprise?); cá háit? (EN: what place?).
Cá haois í anois? |
What age is she now? |
Cá huair a bheidh an dráma ag tosú? |
What time will the play be starting? |
h is placed before a noun beginning with a vowel after Ó in surnames, e.g., Seán Ó hÓgáin; do Chathal Ó hAodha.
Máirtín Ó hÉalaí is ainm dó. |
Máirtín Ó hÉalaí is his name. |
Dúirt Séamas Ó hUiginn go raibh sé sásta leis an bpróiseas. |
Séamas Ó hUiginn said he was satisfied with the process. |
h is placed before a vowel after Dé in Dé hAoine.
Gheall sí go mbeadh sí ann Dé hAoine. |
She promised she would be there on Friday. |
Ba oíche Dé hAoine a tharla sé. |
It was on Friday night that it happened. |
h is placed before a noun beginning with a vowel after the possessive adjective a, third person singular feminine, e.g., a hathair.
Ar chuir sí a hathair in aithne duit go fóill? |
Did she introduce you to her father yet? |
Scríobh sí leabhar álainn faoina haistear thart timpeall na hEorpa. |
She wrote a beautiful book about her journey around Europe. |
h is placed before a vowel after ní (the negative form, present tense of the copula (see 7.2.5)):
on the nouns áibhéil (EN: exaggeration), ionadh (EN: wonder), iontas (EN: surprise) and ualach (EN: burden):
Ní hiontas ar bith é sin. |
That is no surprise at all. |
Ní hualach do dhuine an fhoghlaim. |
Learning is not a burden for a person. |
on the noun in the copular prepositional phrases acmhainn do (EN: ability to); áil le (EN: desire to); aitheanta do (EN: known to); aithnid do (EN: recognized by); éadáil le (EN: profit with); ealaín do (EN: art of); éigean do (EN: necessity for); and eol do (EN: knowledge of):
Ní haithnid duit mé. |
You do not know me. |
Ní healaín do lucht déanta an dlí iompú ar é a bhriseadh. |
Breaking the law is not an art for law makers. (Meaning it is not fit to do so) |
on the noun in the odd proverb:
Ní haithne go haontíos. |
No knowledge until cohabitation. (Meaning You must live with a person to know a person. Credit to Daltaí na Gaeilge for this translation.) |
Ní heolas go haontíos. |
(Same as above. This one appears in FGB.) |
Note that h is not placed before a noun after ní outside of the above-mentioned contexts, e.g., Ní amadán é (EN: He is not a fool); Ní Eoin is ainm dom (EN: My name is not Eoin); Ní eolas oideachas (EN: Knowledge is not education).
h is placed before an adjective or adverb beginning with a vowel after chomh, go and le, e.g., chomh hard le haon chapall (EN: as tall as any horse); Tá sé go hálainn (EN: It is beautiful).
Bhí an crann crónghiúise chomh hard le foirgneamh tríocha urlár. |
The redwood tree was as tall as a thirty-story building. |
Ní bhíonn sé anseo ach go hannamh. |
He is only here rarely. |
Ní ghlacfar le haon iarratas tar éis 5 p.m. Dé hAoine. |
Not any applications will be accepted after 5 p.m. on Friday. |
h is placed before a vowel after ní (the negative form, present tense of the copula (see Chapter 7)):
on the adjectives amháin, aon, ionann and iondúil, and on the adverbs amhlaidh and annamh:
Ní hamháin gur saoire na geansaithe sin ach is fearr iad chomh maith. |
Not only are those sweaters cheap but they are also the best. |
Ní hionann an dá rud ar chor ar bith. |
The two things are not the same at all. |
Ní hamhlaidh nár insíodh di. |
It is not so that she was not told. |
on the adjective in the copular prepositional phrases eagal do/le (EN: afraid of) and oircheas do(EN: right for):
Ní heagal duit an madra. |
You are not afraid of the dog. |
Ní hoircheas duit labhairt air. |
It is not right for you to speak to him. |
h is placed before a vowel after a and na in numbers, e.g., ceacht a haon (EN: lesson one); na hocht gcinn (EN: the eight).
Fuair sí bus a haon déag. |
She got bus number eleven. |
Cár cheannaigh tú na hocht n‑úll dhearga sin? |
Where did you buy those eight red apples? |
h is placed before a vowel after cé and ní on the personal pronominals é, í, ea and iad, e.g., ní hé (EN: he is not); ní hí (EN: she is not); ní hea (EN: it is not); ní hiad (EN: they are not); cé hé? (EN: who is he?); cé hí? (EN: who is she?); cé hiad? (EN: who are they?).
Ní hé lá na báistí lá na bpáistí. |
It is not a rainy day for the children. |
Cé hiad féin? |
Who are they themselves? |
h is placed before a vowel after ní on the demonstrative pronominals éard, eo, in and iúd, e.g., ní héard (EN: it is not that); ní heo (EN: this is not); ní hin (EN: that is not); ní hiúd (EN: those are not).
Ní heo é an rud atá le déanamh. |
This is not the thing to be done. |
Ní hin é. |
That is not it. |
h is placed before a vowel after le on the personal pronominals é, í and iad, e.g., le hé (EN: with him); le hí (EN: with her); le hiad (EN: with them).
Chuaigh sé ann le hí a phósadh. |
He went there with her to marry. |
Rinne sé riail le hiad a smachtú. |
He made a rule with them to control. |
h is placed before a vowel after ná in the imperative mood, e.g., ná himigh (EN: do not go).
Ná habair dada leis faoin gcóisir. |
Do not say anything to him about the party. |
Ná hosclaígí an doras mura bhfuil a fhios agaibh cé atá ann. |
Do not open the door unless you know who is there. |
Ná hóltar sa Dánlann. |
Do not drink in the Library. |
d' is placed before a vowel or fh‑ in place of lenition on a consonant in the past tense and the habitual past tense, the indicative mood, and the conditional mood, e.g., d’fhágamar (EN: we left); d’fhanadh sibh (EN: you would stay); d’fhreagróinn (EN: I would answer); d’imeoinn (EN: I would go in); d’ithinn (EN: I used to eat); d’ól sé (EN: he drank); an té a d’imigh (EN: the one who left); d’aithneofaí í (EN: she would be recognized); má d’fhág sé (EN: if he left); má d’fheiceadh sé (EN: if he saw); má d’imríomar (EN: if we played).
An í sin an cheist a d’fhreagair sé? |
Is that the question that he answered? |
Théidís abhaile láithreach nuair a d’fhágaidís an áit. |
They would go home immediately when they left the place. |
Ní raibh mé cinnte faoin méid a d’íosfadh sé. |
I was not sure about the amount that he would eat. |
As a reference aid, a summary is given here of the contexts in which lenition is applied to nouns, adjectives, verbs and pronominals. A full explanation of the rule is available at the cross-references in the left-hand column.
| Lenition | |
|---|---|
| Lenition is applied to the noun in the following contexts: | Examples |
| After the articles an in the nominative singular feminine, the genitive singular masculine, and, in some contexts, the dative singular, masculine and feminine (10.2.1) | an bhean; hata an fhir; don chlár; sa pháirc |
| After the possessive particle, singular or plural, masculine or feminine (10.2.2) | a bhuachaill; a dhaoine uaisle |
| After the possessive adjectives mo, do and a (masc. singular); after the distributive adjective uile; and after the indefinite adjective aon (10.2.3) | mo pheann; do chat; a ghuthán; gach uile dhuine; aon bhord |
| After the numbers aon, céad; dhá; and trí, ceithre, cúig, sé (10.2.4) | aon chailín amháin; an chéad bhróg; dhá mhadra; trí bhád |
| After the prepositions de, do, faoi, ionsar, mar, ó, roimh, trí; um unless the noun begins with b, m, p; and ar, gan, idir, thar in certain contexts (10.2.5) | faoi bhord; um Cháisc; ar bhád; idir fhir agus mhná |
| After a compound preposition if the noun is a definite noun (10.2.6) | in aice Bhaile Átha Cliath; timpeall mhí na Nollag |
| After a feminine noun except in the contexts mentioned in 10.2.7(a)–(m) (10.2.7) | cloch shneachta; tuarascáil pharlaiminte |
| After a noun in the plural ending in a slender consonant in all contexts not mentioned in 10.2.8(a)–(f) (10.2.8) | éin chlóis; ceadúnais ghnó |
| After a noun that is in the singular or plural, masculine or feminine, if it is a definite noun in the genitive (10.2.10) | Cuan Bhaile Átha Cliath; doras Theach an Phiarsaigh |
| In surnames after Mhic, Mhig, Ní, Nic, Nig, Uí, and after Mac (Mag) in certain contexts (10.2.11) | Úna Nic Shuibhne; Isibéal Nig Fhloinn |
| If it is the second word in a compound (10.2.12) | dea-cháil; deargbhuile; rósghairdín |
| After the copula in the indicative mood, past tense and habitual past tense, and in the conditional mood (10.2.13) | Ba mheicneoir é; Nár cheoltóir maith é?; Ba dhóigh leis gur ghadaí é. |
| Lenition is applied to the adjective in the following contexts: | Examples |
| After a noun that is in the nominative, dative or vocative singular feminine; in the genitive or vocative singular masculine; in the nominative or dative plural if the noun ends in a slender consonant (or in the dative singular masculine if the Lenition System is in use) or after a noun in the singular if dhá or a number from trí to deich precedes it (10.3.1) | feoil bhlasta; leis an mbean cháiliúil; a ghirseach chiúin; úinéir an chapaill ghlais; a éin bhig; lipéid shothuigthe; ar na scamaill mhóra dhubha; dhá ghadhar fhíochmhara; dhá chat thanaí; trí fhuinneog mhóra |
| In the same way as a noun is lenited after a simple preposition, after a simple preposition and the articles, after a possessive adjective, and in the masculine genitive case (10.3.2) | laistigh de cheithre mhí; sa chúigiú háit; a dtríú hiarracht (third person masc.); bróga an cheathrú girseach |
| On the adjectives dhá and dháréag (10.3.3) | dhá bhróg; Bhí dháréag i láthair. |
| On déag after dó and a singular noun ending in a vowel; and on fichead after a plural noun ending in a slender consonant (10.3.4) | a dó dhéag; cúig bhó dhéag; trí cinn fhichead |
| If it is the second word in a compound (10.3.5) | beagmhaith; fíordheas; ollmhór |
| After the copula in the indicative mood, past tense and habitual past tense, and in the conditional mood (10.3.6) | ba dheas; nár dhona; níor cheart |
| Lenition is applied to the verb in the following contexts: | Examples |
| On the independent verb in the indicative mood, past tense and habitual past tense, and in the conditional mood; after a, direct relative; after the conjunctions má and ó; and in the affirmative clause that is a noun of the copula (10.4.1) | mhol mé; mholainn; mholfainn; an bhean a thiomáineann é; má dhéanann tú; Is ann a cheannaíonn sé leabhair. |
| On the dependent verb after the conjunctions and verbal particles: ar, cár, dár, gur, murar, nár, ní, níor, sular (10.4.2) | ar chuir tú; nár phós sé; níor cheannaigh mé; sular tháinig sé |
| Lenition is applied to the demonstrative pronominal in the following contexts | Examples |
| On sin after ó in the phrase ó shin (10.5.1) | ó shin i leith |
As a reference aid, a summary is given here of the contexts in which eclipsis is applied to nouns, adjectives, and verbs.
| Eclipsis | |
|---|---|
| Eclipsis is applied to the noun in the following contexts: | Examples |
| After the articles an in the dative singular, masculine and feminine, in some contexts; in the phrases mar an gcéanna and um an dtaca and in the masculine and feminine genitive plural (10.6.1) | ar an gcapall; leis an mbean; ón mbosca; tríd an bpáirc; seolta na mbád beag |
| After ár, bhur, a (third person plural) and after dhá if it follows ár, bhur, a (third person plural) (10.6.2) | ár n‑athair; bhur bpáistí; a gcótaí; ár dhá gcapall; bhur dhá dteach |
| After seacht, ocht, naoi, deich (10.6.3) | seacht ndícheall; ocht gcinn |
| After i; after ar in some phrases; and after go in certain situations (10.6.4) | i mbád; ar gcúl; go bhfios dom |
| After cá in the established phrase cá bhfios (10.6.5) | cá bhfios dó? |
| Eclipsis is applied to the adjective in the following contexts: | Examples |
| In the same way as a noun is eclipsed after a simple preposition, after a simple preposition and the articles, after a possessive adjective and in the genitive plural (10.7) | i gceithre leabhar; ar an gcúigiú duine; a dtríú hiarracht (third person pl.); scéal mhadra na n‑ocht gcos |
| Eclipsis is applied to the verb in the following contexts: | Examples |
| In the relative clause after a, indirect relative, and nach, after a preposition that is composed with a, indirect relative, and after a (meaning the amount that) and dá (from de+a, do+a) (10.8.1) | an bhean a dtagann a páistí ar scoil; an bainne nach n‑óltar; tá a dteastódh uait acu; an leabhar dá dtagraítear |
| On the dependent verb after the conjunctions and verbal particles: an, cá, dá (conditional), go, mura, nach, sula, and after ní for the dependent form of the verb faigh in the past tense, future tense and conditional mood (10.8.2) | an mbeidh; dá mbeadh; mura ndéanfaidh; Nach n‑ólann sé bainne?; ní bhfuair; ní bhfaighidh sé; ní bhfaighfeá |
As a reference aid, a summary is given here of the contexts in which t is placed before a vowel at the beginning of a noun and an adjective.
| t Before a Vowel | |
|---|---|
| t is placed before a vowel at the beginning of nouns and at the beginning of adjectives in the following contexts: | Examples |
| After the afticle an before a masculine noun in the nominative singular and before aon, aonú, ochtú, ochtódú, ochtú (10.9.1) | an t‑eitleán; an t‑aon duine; an t‑ochtú clár sa tsraith |
As a reference aid, a summary is given here of the contexts in which t is placed before s at the beginning of a noun.
| t Before s | |
|---|---|
| t is placed before s at the beginning of a noun in the following contexts: | Examples |
| After the article an when a feminine singular noun (and masculine singular noun in the Lenition System) is in the nominative or dative and starts with s + vowel or sl-, sn-, sr-; and when a masculine singular noun in the genitive starts with s + vowel or sl-, sn-, sr- (10.10.1) | an tsúil; ar an tsráid; leis an tsreang; deireadh an tséasúir; eochair an tsiopadóra |
As a reference aid, a summary is given here of the contexts in which h is put before a vowel at the start of a noun, adjective, adverb, pronominal or verb.
| h Before a Vowel | |
|---|---|
| h is placed before a vowel at the start of a noun in the following contexts: | Examples |
| After the article na in the genitive feminine singular and in the nominative plural and in the dative plural (10.11.1) | ainm na háite; na heitleáin; faoi na hábhair |
| After the ordinal numbers (except céad) (10.11.2(a)) | an dara háit; an ceathrú halt |
| After the cardinal numbers trí, ceithre, cúig, sé for uaire (10.11.2(b)) | trí huaire |
| After le and go (when go means go dtí) (10.11.3) | le hintinn mhaith; go hAlasca |
| After the interrogative pronominal cá (10.11.4) | Cá hiontas? |
| After Ó in surnames (10.11.5) | Seán Ó hAodha |
| After Dé in Dé hAoine (10.11.6) | Dé hAoine |
| After the Possessive Adjective a, third person femininte singular (10.11.7) | a hathair; a húll |
| After ní (negative, present tense form of the copula) on the nouns áibhéil, áil, éigean, eol, ionadh, iontas, ualach, int the copular prepositional phrases acmhainn do, aitheanta do, aithnid do, éadáil le, ealaín do, éigean do, eol do, áil le and in the odd proverb (10.11.8) | ní háibhéil é; ní hionadh é; ní hacmhainn di; ní healaín dó; ní huair chairde í; ní heolas go haontíos |
| h is placed before a vowel at the start of an adverb in the following contexts: | Examples |
| After chomh, go, le (10.12.1) | chomh hard le teach; go hálainn; le haon duine |
| After ní (negative, present tense form of the copula) on the adjectives amháin, aon, ionann and iondúil, in the copular prepositional phrases eagal do/le, oircheas do, and on the adverbs amhlaidh and annamh (10.12.2) | ní haon ionadh é; ní hiondúil go dtarlaíonn sé; ní hamhlaidh nár insíodh di |
| After a, na in the numbers (10.12.3) | a hocht; na hocht gcáipéis |
| h is placed before a vowel at the start of a pronominal in the following contexts: | Examples |
| After cé, ní on the personal pronominals é, ea, í, iad (10.13.1) | cé hí; ní hé |
| After ní on the demonstrative pronominals éard, eo, in, iúd (10.13.2) | ní héard; ní hin |
| After le on the personal pronominals é, í, iad (10.13.3) | le hiad |
| h is placed before a vowel at the start of a verb in the following contexts: | Examples |
| After ná in the imperative mood (10.14.1) | ná habair; ná himigh |
As a reference aid, a summary is given here of the contexts in which d' is placed before a vowel or fh‑ at the start of a verb.
| d' before a Vowel or fh | |
|---|---|
| d' is placed before a vowel or fh‑ at the start of a verb in the following contexts: | Examples |
| In the past tense, in the past habitual tense and in the conditional mood in the place where there would be a lenition of a consonant (10.15) | d’fhreagair sé; má d’fheiceadh sé; d’imigh sí; d’aithneofaí í |