# Chapter 1 | The Article

There is one article in the Irish language — the definite article. The subject of the article is called the definite noun. The article has two forms: an and na. The article is placed before the noun, e.g., an baile (EN: the town); an mhír (EN: the item); na caoirigh (EN: the sheep); teach na cúirte (EN: the court house); or before whatever word is put before the noun to qualify it, e.g., an uile dhuine (EN: everyone); scéal mhadra na n‑ocht gcos (EN: story of the eight-legged dog); tús na chéad seachtaine (EN: beginning of the first week). It is possible to use the article in place of possessive adjectives, e.g., Tá an croí ag cur air (EN: His heart is troubling him); Bhí an ghrian ag baint na súl asam (EN: The sun was taking my eyes from me).

The article is written with a small letter in the middle of sentences, e.g., Nach raibh tú ag an Oireachtas i mbliana? (EN: Were you at the Oireachtas this year?); Bhí aithne mhaith agam ar an Seabhac (EN: I knew Seabhac well); except in certain contexts such as publication titles e.g., Cé a scríobh An tOileánach? (EN: Who wrote An tOileánach?)

If a title containing an article (see 1.1.5 (a), (b) and (c)) is written on its own, for example on a public notice or on a cover sheet, the article is always included and is capitalized, e.g., An Ghníomhaireacht um Thacaíocht Teaghlaigh (EN: The Agency for Family Support); Na Coimisinéirí Ioncaim (EN: The Revenue Commissioners); An Ceoláras Náisiúnta (EN: The National Conservatory).

A hyphen is placed between the initial letter t and a vowel, except when the vowel is capitalized, e.g., an t‑ospidéal, an tAlbanach. A hyphen is not placed between the initial letter t and s, e.g., an tsaoirse; an tSionainn; tús an tsaoil; nor between the initial letter h and a vowel, e.g., na hainmneacha; lár na habairte; stair na hUachtaránachta.

The article is used in the following contexts.

1. Official Titles, e.g., an tAire Airgeadais, an Príomh-Oifigeach Feidhmiúcháin, an Taoiseach, Ard-Rúnaí na Náisiún Aontaithe.

   Beidh an tAire Airgeadais ag freastal ar an gcruinniú.	The Minister for Finance will attend the meeting.
   Cá bhfuil an Príomh-Oifigeach Feidhmiúcháin?	Where is the Chief Executive Officer?
   Tá an Taoiseach ag labhairt leis na daltaí.	The Taoiseach is speaking with the students.
   An é sin Ard-Rúnaí na Náisiún Aontaithe?	Is that the Secretary General of the United Nations?

2. Titles of Government Departments and State Companies, e.g., an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna, an Oifig um Rialú Tobac, Feidhmeannacht na Seirbhíse Sláinte, an Phríomh-Oifig Staidrimh.

   Is san fhoirgneamh sin thall atá an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna.	This building is opposite the Department of Education and Skills.
   Chuaigh Seán go dtí an Oifig um Rialú Tobac.	Sean went to the Office of Tobacco Control.
   Tá Feidhmeannacht na Seirbhíse Sláinte an-ghnóthach.	The Health Service Executive is very busy.
   Seo an Phríomh-Oifig Staidrimh.	This is the Central Statistics Office.

3. Titles of people before a proper noun, e.g., an tAthair Peadar Ua Laoghaire, an Captaen Ó Murchú, an tUachtarán Mhic Róibín, an Teachta de Barra (EN: the Reprsentative of de Barra), an Múinteoir Ailbhe, an Pápa Eoin Pól II (EN: Pope John Paul II), an Rí Anraí VIII (EN: King Henry VIII).

   Ba é an tAthair Peadar Ua Laoghaire a scríobh an dráma An Sprid.	Father Peadar Ua Laoghaire wrote the play An Sprid.
   Labhair an Captaen Ó Murchú leis na himreoirí.	Captain Ó Murchú spoke to the players.
   Bhí an tUachtarán Mhic Róibín le feiceáil sa ghrianghraf.	President Mhic Róibín was to be seen in the photograph.
   Beidh an Dochtúir de Barra ar saoire ar feadh seachtaine.	Doctor de Barra will be on holiday for the week.
   Tá an Múinteoir Ailbhe i bhfeighil ar rang a sé i mbliana.	Teacher Ailbhe is in charge of sixth class this year.
   Is í an Bhanríon Elsa a Dó atá sa scannán.	It is Queen Elsa II in the film.

4. Festivals, e.g., an Nollaig, an Cháisc, an Carghas.

   Tá an Nollaig ag teannadh linn.	Christmas is approaching us.
   Is i mí an Mhárta a bheid an Cháisc i mbliana.	Easter will be in March this year.
   Rinne mé an Carghas ar an ól.	I gave up drinking for Lent.

   Note that the article is not used in certain adverbial forms, e.g., faoi Cháisc, um Nollaig, faoi Bhealtaine.

5. Days of the week, e.g., an Luan, an Mháirt, an Chéadaoin.

   Is é an Luan an lá is ansa liom.	Monday is my favorite day.
   Téim ag snámh ar an Máirt.	I go swimming on Tuesdays.
   Inniu an Chéadaoin.	Today is a Wednesday.

   Note that the adverb Dé is used in place of the article referring to a particular day, e.g., Bhí mé ag caint leis Dé Céadaoin seo caite (EN: I was talking to him last Wednesday).

   If a preposition is used before certain days, a compound is formed between the article and the preposition, e.g., Ní mór na hiarratais a bheith faighte foin Aoine, an 16 Bealtaine (EN: The applications must be received by Friday, 16 May).

6. Months and years

   The article is used for the months Márta (March), Bealtaine (May), Meitheamh (June), Samhain (November) and Nollaig (December). The article is not used for the other months except for the calqued form san Aibreán (From: in April).
   TL Note: (calqued version/form appears to be the intended meaning here for leagan calctha, not found in FGB. See also 1.3.2 for another instance.)

   Is minic a bhíonn mí Eanáir níos fuaire ná mí na Nollag.	Often January is colder than December.
   Tá an Cháisc i mí an Mhárta seachas mí Aibreáin i mbliana.	Easter is in March rather than April this year.

7. Dates

   The article should be used referring to a date in a sentence.

   Ba chóir é a dhéanamh tráth nach déanaí ná an 30 Meán Fómhair gach bliain.	I should be done no later than 30 September every year.
   Beidh an chóisir ar síúl ar an 12 Aibreán.	The party will be on 12 April.
   Baineann na ráitis airgeadais leis an mbliain dar chríoch an 31 Nollaig 2014.	The financial reports are for the year ended 31 December 2014.
   Pósfaidh siad an 26 Feabhra.	They will marry on 26 February.
   Ní ghlacfar le haon iarratas a gheofar tar éis an 7 Márta 2016.	No applications will be accepted after 7 March 2016.

   the date is by itself — in a letterhead, or as in the date on an invoice or an Act etc. — the article is omitted, e.g., 26 Feabhra 2014.

8. Names of towns, mountains and rivers

   1. Some cities and towns, e.g., an Aithin (EN: Athens), na Cealla Beaga (EN: Kells), na Gleannta (EN: the Glens), an tSnaidhm (EN: Snaidhm), an Spidéal (EN: Spiddal).
   2. Certain mountains and cities, e.g., na hAindéis (EN: the Andes), na hAlpa (EN: the Alps), an Bhograch (EN: the Bograch), an Chearc (EN: the Chearc), na Comaraigh (EN: the Comaraigh), an Earagail (EN: the Erigail), na Himiléithe (EN: the Himalayas), an Mhucais (EN: the Muckish).
   3. Most rivers e.g., an Bhóinn (EN: the Boyne), an Danóib (EN: the Danube), an Life (EN: the Liffey), an Phó (EN: the Po), an Réin (EN: the Rhine), an Róin (EN: the Rhone), an tSéin (EN: the Seine), an tSionainn (EN: the Shannon), an Tibir (EN: the Tiber).

   Rinne mé an Mhucais a shiúl inné.	I walked the Muckish yesterday.
   Ar bhuaigh an Spidéal an cluiche?	Did Spiddal win the game?
   Bhí an tSionainn le feiceáil ón eitleán.	The Shannon can be seen from the airplane.

9. Names of countries and regions

   1. The article accompanies the names of countries and regions if the noun is feminine and:

      1. if it ends with a slender consonant e.g., an Airgintín (EN: Argentina), an Albáin (EN: Albania), an Bhaváir (EN: Bavaria), an Chatalóin (EN: Catalonia), an Eastóin (EN: Estonia), an Eoraip (EN: Europe), an Fhrainc (EN: France), an Ghearmáin (EN: Germany), an Mhacadóin (EN: Macedonia), an Namaib (EN: Namibia), an Phacastáin (EN: Pakistan), an tSeineagáil (EN: Senegal), an Spáinn (EN: Spain), an tSúdáin (EN: Sudan);
      2. if it ends with -ia e.g., an India (EN: India), an Laitvia (EN: Latvia), an tSiria (EN: Syria);
      3. if it ends with -e, -é e.g., an Chóiré (EN: Korea), an Chrimé (EN: Crimea), an Ghuine (EN: Guinea), an tSile (EN: Chile).

      Some names of countries and regions end with a slender consonant but are not accompanied by the article, e.g., Bairéin (EN: Bahrain), Beinin (EN: Benin), Cuáit (EN: Kuwait), Éimin (EN: Egypt), Guadalúip (EN: Guadeloupe), Lichtinstéin (EN: Liechtenstein), Mósaimbíc (EN: Mozambique), or end with -í in the singular but are not accompanied by the article e.g. Geansaí (EN: Jersey), Geirsí (EN: Guernsey), Háítí (EN: Haiti), Haváí (EN: Hawaii), Mailí (EN: Mali), Taihítí (EN: Tahiti). The article is not used except for the genitive for Albain (EN: Scotland), Éire (EN: Ireland) (see 3.1.4).

      Is tír álainn í an Fhrainc.	France is a beautiful country.
      Luaitear Mósaimbíc sa leabhar.	Mozambique is mentioned in the book.

   2. The article does not accompany the names of countries and regions if the noun is masculine and:

      1. if it ends with a broad consonant, e.g., Barbadós (EN: Barbados), Eacuadór (EN: Ecuador), Guam (EN: Guam), Hondúras (EN: Honduras), Natal (EN: Natal), Óman (EN: Oman), Sead (EN: Seychelles), Siam (EN: Siam), Suranam (EN: Suriname);
      2. if it ends with -eo, -ó, e.g., Boirneo (EN: Borneo), Maracó (EN: Morocco), Meicsiceo (EN: Mexico), Monacó (EN: Monaco), Samó (EN: Samoa) (exception: an Congó (EN: the Congo));
      3. if it ends with -a, -á, -iú, -ua, e.g., Alasca (EN: Alaska), Ceanada (EN: Canada), Cúba (EN: Cuba), Gána (EN: Ghana), Meiriceá (EN: America), Nicearagua (EN: Nicaragua), Panama (EN: Panama), Papua (EN: Papua), Paragua (EN: Paraguay), Peiriú (EN: Peru), Sasana (EN: England);
      4. if it ends with -ael, e.g., Iosrael (EN: Israel).

   3. The article accompanies the names of countries and regions that are nouns in the plural, e.g., na hAsóir (EN: the Azores), na Bahámaí (EN: the Bahamas), na Garbhchríocha (EN: the Highlands), na Scigirí (EN: the Shetland Islands).

      I Muir Chairib atá na Bahámaí.	The Bahamas are in the Caribbean.
      Rinneadh an scannán a thaifeadadh sna Garbhchríocha.	The film was recorded in the Highlands.

10. Prayers and certain battle cries, e.g., an Choróin Mhuire, an Ghlóir, an Dord Fiann.

    Dúradh an Ghlóir i lár an Aifrinn.	Glory was said in the middle of the Mass.
    Ní minic a chloistear an Dord Fiann.	The Dord Fiann is not often heard.
    Dúirt sé an Choróin Mhuire os ard.	He said the rosary loudly.

11. Distributive use

    The article is used to express a rate the meaning each individual or per is intended.

    Dhíol sé na leabhair ar euro an ceann.	He sells the books for one Euro each.
    Eagraítear comóradh uair sa bhliain.	An anniversary is organized once per year.
    Bhí mála an duine ag na páistí scoile.	Every schoolchild had a bag.

12. The noun has an abstract or conceptual meaning

    Nuair a bhíonn an t‑ól istigh, bíonn an chiall amuigh.	the drink, is in, sense is out.
    Ní maith í an fhearg.	Anger is not good.
    Tugadh isteach an colscaradh in Éirinn roinnt blianta ó shin.	Divorce was introduced in Ireland some years ago.
    Is rud nua í an taiscéalaíocht sa spás.	Space exploration is a new thing.
    Ní féidir taisteal san am.	It is not possible to travel through time.
    Inseoidh an aimsir.	The weather will tell.
    Is maith an t‑anlann an t‑ocras.	Hunger is the best sauce.

    Note that the article is not used in certain sayings, e.g., Tá ciall cheannaith aige (EN: He has bought sense); or the noun does not have a general meaning, e.g., Bhí ocras orm (EN: I was hungry); Tá siad i ngrá (EN: They are in love).

13. Certain Illnesses, e.g., an ailse (EN: cancer), an déideadh (EN: smallpox), an titimeas (EN: epilepsy), an bhruitíneach (EN: measles).

    Bhí an bhruitíneach fairsing in Éirinn go dtí na 1960idí.	Measles was widespread in Ireland until the 1960s.
    An bhfuil leigheas ar an titimeas?	Is there a cure for epilepsy?

14. Languages, e.g., an Ghaeilge (EN: Irish), an Ghearmáinis (EN: German), an Béarla (EN: English).

    Is í an Ghaeilge teanga ár sinsear.	Irish is the language of our ancestors.
    Labhraítear an Ghearmáinis san Ostair.	German is spoken in Austria.
    Bhí an Béarla go maith aici.	She had good English.

    Note that the article is omitted the general meaning is not intended, e.g., Tá Fraincis aici (EN: She speaks French); Cuir i nGaeilge é (EN: Put it in Irish); rang Iodáilise (EN: Italian class).

#1.3.1

#1.3.2

#1.3.3

#1.3.4

#1.3.5

#1.4.1

#1.4.2

#1.4.3

#1.4.4

#1.5.1

See 3.3 for contexts where the nominative form is used instead of the genitive.

#1.5.2

In the table below, the effect of the article on the noun in the nominative plural case and in the accusative plural case is shown.

The dative plural case follows the prepositions a, ag, ar, as, chuig, dar, de, do, faoi, fara, go, i, ionsar, le, ó, roimh, trí and um. The preposition i is composed with the article in the plural: i + na = sna. There is a separate form for fara and le before the article in the plural: fara, fairis; le, leis. Shown in the table below is the effect of the article on the noun in the dative plural case.

In the table below, the effect of the article on the noun in the genitive plural case is shown.

*These are the eclipsable consonants: b, c, d, f, g, p and t

In the dative plural case only, there are other choices given for the Lenition System. It is recommended to adhere to one system only — the Core System or the Lenition System — and not to mix the systems.

The rules regarding the dative plural case in the Core System and in the Lenition System are the same (See 1.6.2).

In the Lenition system, nouns starting with the a consonant are lenited (other than d, t and s) as well as the adjectives attached to them. See the table below.

As for masculine nouns and feminine nouns starting with s, a t is placed before the s (other than with nouns starting with sc-, sf-, sm-, sp-, st- or sv- which are left bare) as shown in the table below.

No change is done to either masculine nouns or feminine nouns starting with vowels. See the table below.

No change is done to either masculine nouns or feminine nouns starting with d and t. See the table below.