Identifying Masculine Nouns – Rule Overview

Masculine Noun – Rule – Identifying a masculine noun’s gender by its ending.

In this section, we will explore masculine noun endings which follow certain conditions.

We will list the conditions and give an example of most noun endings that fall into the category of masculine noun endings. 

Each noun example will include a foclóir.ie link for confirmation purposes.

Our goal is to help learners achieve a clear understanding of Identifying a masculine noun’s gender by its ending.

Masculine Noun Endings

Tip: Most nouns are Masculine

Identifying Masculine Nouns:

1. Living things that are male.

Any declension

2. Most nouns ending in a broad vowel.

Mostly masc1

3. Most professions and the following endings -óir, -eoir, -úir, -éir,

Mostly masc3

4. Most nouns ending in a vowel or -ín

Mostly masc4

5. Generally, one syllable nouns ending in -cht

Mostly masc3

Note: There are always exceptions.

Masculine Declensions are in the following groups:

masc1 = Masculine Group 1

masc3 = Masculine Group 3

masc4 = Masculine Group 4

masc5 = Masculine Group 5 (not very common)

Note: We will discuss declensions in more detail at a later stage.

1. Living things that are male are masculine.

These nouns can be found in any declension group.

masc1

Fear

Man

masc3

Buachaill

Boy

masc4

Uncail

Uncle

masc5

Athair

father

2. Most nouns ending in a broad vowel.

These nouns are mostly found in masc1 = Masculine Group 1.

broad vowels include: a/á, o/ó and u/ú.

Some of the most common broad endings are:

1-17 (endings)

These noun endings are listed in terms of most common to least common.

-as

-án

-al

-an

-ach

-eadh

-éad

-adh

-éal

-ún

-úr

-ann

-éar

-ar

-ár

-ad

-each

We will show an example of each noun ending using the following format:

-ending

declension group

Noun

Translation

(1-end) -as

-as

masc1

Sorcas

Circus

(2-end)-án

-án

masc1

Cupán

Cup

(3-end) -al

-al

masc1

Focal

Word

(4-end) -an

-an

masc1

Domhan

World

(5-end) -ach

-ach

masc1

Cuardach

Search

(6-end) -eadh

-eadh

masc1

Cuireadh

Invitation

(7-end) -éad

-éad

masc1

Ticéad

Ticket

(8-end) -adh

masc1

Cogadh

War

(9-end) -éal

-éal

masc1

Buidéal

Bottle

(10-end) -ún

-ún

masc1

Botún

Mistake

(11-end) -úr

-úr

masc1

Cultúr

Culture

(12-end) -ann

-ann

masc1

Crann

Tree

(13-end) -éar

-éar

masc1

Dinnéar

Dinner

(14-end) -ar

-ar

masc1

Iompar

Transportation

(15-end) -ár

-ár

masc1

Clár

Programme

(16-end) -ad

-ad

masc1

Ionad

centre

(17-end) -each

-each

masc1

Réiteach

Solution

3. Most professions and the following endings -óir, -eoir, -éir, -úir,

These nouns are mostly found in masc3 = Masculine Group 3

We will show an example of each noun ending using the following format:

-ending

declension group

Noun

Translation

-óir

masc3

Cuntasóir

Accountant

-eoir

masc3

Iriseoir

Journalist

-úir

masc3

Dochtúir

Doctor

-éir

masc3

Péintéir

Painter

4. Most nouns ending in a vowel or -ín

These nouns are mostly found in masc4 = Masculine Group 4

Some of the most common vowel endings:

-a

-á

-o

-ó

-ú

-aire

-ire

-aí

We will show an example of each noun ending using the following format:

-ending

declension group

Noun

Translation

-a

masc4

Seomra

Room

-á

masc4

Comhrá

Conversation

-o

masc4

Stiúideo

Studio

-ó

masc4

Pianó

Piano

-u (uncommon)

–

-ú

masc4

Ordú

Order

-aire

masc4

Ceapaire

Sandwich

-ire

masc4

Féilire

Calendar

-aí

masc4

Amhránaí

Singer

Most nouns ending in -ín

These nouns are mostly found in masc4 = Masculine Group 4

-ín

masc4

Sicín

Chicken

5. Generally, one syllable nouns ending in -cht

These nouns are mostly found in masc3 = Masculine Group 3

We will show an example of each noun ending using the following format:

-ending

declension group

Noun

Translation

-cht

masc3

Ceacht

Lesson

Learners will find a detailed breakdown of identifying a masculine noun’s gender by its ending on the TYM – Learn Irish Apps.