Tip: Most nouns are Masculine
Identifying Masculine Nouns Rule of Thumb:
Living things that are male.
Most nouns ending in a broad vowel.
Most professions and the following endings -óir, -eoir, -úir, -éir,
Most nouns ending in a vowel or -ín
Note: A minority of nouns ending in a vowel are feminine. Always confirm the correct gender w/ foclóir.ie
Generally, one syllable nouns ending in -cht
Identifying Feminine Nouns Rule of Thumb:
Living things that are female (except cailín).
Countries (except Sasana, Ceanada, Meiriceá & others).
Languages (except Béarla).
Most Rivers.
Most nouns ending in a slender vowel.
Most endings -eog, -óg, -lann,
Most polly-syllable nouns ending in -cht [-eacht, -acht, -aíocht, -íocht]
Most abstract nouns ending in a vowel.
Important: There are always exceptions, use foclóir.ie to confirm gender.
Abbreviations for identifying Masculine or Feminine Nouns:
Tip: Most nouns are Masculine
Identifying Masculine Nouns Rule of Thumb:
Living things that are male.
(masc. living male)
Most nouns ending in a broad vowel.
(masc. broad vowel)
Most professions and the following endings -óir, -eoir, -úir, -éir,
(masc. -óir)
(masc. -eoir)
(masc. -úir)
(masc. -éir)
Most nouns ending in a vowel or -ín
(masc. vowel ending)
(masc. -ín)
Note: A minority of nouns ending in a vowel are feminine. Always confirm the correct gender w/ foclóir.ie
(minority. fem. vowel ending)
Generally, one syllable nouns ending in -cht
(masc. one-syllable -cht)
Identifying Feminine Nouns Rule of Thumb:
Living things that are female (except cailín).
(fem. living female)
Countries (except Sasana, Ceanada, Meiriceá & others).
(fem. country)
Languages (except Béarla).
(fem. language)
Most rivers.
(fem. river)
Most nouns ending in a slender vowel.
(fem. slender vowel)
Most endings -eog, -óg, -lann,
(fem. -eog)
(fem. -óg)
(fem. -lann)
Most polly-syllable nouns ending in -cht [-eacht, -acht, -aíocht, -íocht]
(fem. polly-syllable -eacht)
(fem. polly-syllable -acht)
(fem. polly-syllable -aíocht)
(fem. polly-syllable -íocht)
Most abstract nouns ending in a vowel.
(fem. abstract vowel)
Important: There are always exceptions, use foclóir.ie to confirm gender.
Exceptions will be marked as follows:
(fem. exception) (masc. broad vowel)
(masc. exception) (fem. slender vowel)
Abbreviation List:
(masc. living male)
(masc. broad vowel)
(masc. -óir)
(masc. -eoir)
(masc. -úir)
(masc. -éir)
(masc. vowel ending)
(masc. -ín)
(minority. fem. vowel ending)
(masc. one-syllable -cht)
(fem. living female)
(fem. country)
(fem. language)
(fem. river)
(fem. slender vowel)
(fem. -eog)
(fem. -óg)
(fem. -lann)
(fem. polly-syllable -eacht)
(fem. polly-syllable -acht)
(fem. polly-syllable -aíocht)
(fem. polly-syllable -íocht)
(fem. abstract vowel)
(fem. exception) (masc. broad vowel)
(masc. exception) (fem. slender vowel)
Abbreviation Examples:
Rugbaí
(masc. vowel ending)
foireann
(fem. exception)(masc. broad vowel)
stair
(fem. slender vowel)
seachtain
(fem. slender vowel)
deireadh
(masc. broad vowel)
alt
(masc. broad vowel)
nuacht
(fem. polly-syllable -acht)
Páras
(masc. broad vowel)
cúis
(fem. slender vowel)
imreoir
(masc. -eoir)
domhan
(masc. broad vowel)
curadh
(masc. broad vowel)
pointe
(masc. vowel ending)
an Afraic Theas
(fem. country)
cluiche
(masc. vowel ending)
céim
(fem. slender vowel)
Learners will find more Irish grammatical information on the TYM – Learn Irish Apps.