Ainmfhocail (Nouns)

A person, place or thing.

An bhfuil an t-ainmfhocal firinscneach (masculine) nó baininscneach (feminine)?

Firinscneach (Masculine) Baininscneach (Feminine)

Guta(Vowel) Put t- after “an” Guta(Vowel) No change after “an”
an t-airgead an oíche
an t-úrlar an áit

Consan(Consanant) No h after “an” Consan(Consanant) h after “an”

an bosca an cheist
An doras An fhuinneog

“s” No t- after “an” “s” Put t after “an”

an solas an tsráid
an sagart an tsiúr
 Ainmfhocail (Nouns)

Firinscneach (Masculine)
80% den am beidh sé Firinscneach má tá an guta deireanach
leathan (a,o,u) – (80% of the time Masculine if last vowel a, o or u).

Msh. samhradh, arán, buicéad, éan, fear.....

Eisceachtaí (Exceptions)
Má chríochnaíonn sé ar aon cheann acu seo tá sé Firinscneach (If it ends on any of these it’s
Masculine also);

1. (a)í rúnaí, céimí *

2. éir báicéir*
3. eoir/-óir múinteoir/bádóir*
4. ín cailín*
5. (i)úir dochtúir*

Nodanna eile (Other hints):

1) Má chríochnaíonn sé ar ghuta, seans go bhfuil sé firinscneach (If the last letter is a vowel
there’s a good chance that it is masculine) msh. siopa, file.
2) Postanna don chuid is mó (Most jobs are masculine) msh. Rúnaí

Remember! Firinscneach? After “an” the following must happen:

Consanants = an + no h msh. an fear, an bórd….

Gutaí (a,e,i,o,u) = an + t- msh. an t-airgead, an t-úrlár….

s = an + no change msh. an sagart, an saol….

 Baininscneach (Feminine)
70% den am beidh sé Baininscneach má tá an guta deireanach caol
(i, e) (70% of the time Feminine if last vowel is i or e)
msh. Feadaíl, sábháil, aois, bagairt, dúil, canúint....srl.
Eisceachtaí (Exceptions)
Má chríochnaíonn sé ar aon cheann acu seo tá sé Baininscneach (If it ends on any of these it’s
Feminine also);

1. (a)íocht siamsaíocht/filíocht *
2. –chan athbheochan *
3. (e)ach (2 Syllable nouns only) báisteach/scórnach*
4. (e)acht Gaeltacht, gluaiseacht *
5. lann leabharlann *
6. eog/óg fuinneog/bróg *

Nodanna eile:

1) Gach teanga seachas Béarla (All languages except English) msh. An Ghaeilge, An
Fhraincís, an tSeapáinis….an Béarla
2) Gach tír seachas Sasana, Meiriceá & Ceanada.

Remember! Baininscneach? After “an” the following must happen:

Consanants = an + h msh. an bhean, an fhuinneog….

Gutaí (a,e,i,o,u) = No Change msh. an áit, an obair….

s = an + ts msh. an tsráid, an tseachtain….

NB
t agus d …..

no h ever whether it’s Firinscneach or Baininscneach!

eg. an doras (Masc)

an duilleog (Fem)
 An tAinmfhocal & Aidiachtaí
(Nouns & Adjectives)

Tagann an Aidiacht tar éis an tAinmfhocal sa Ghaeilge msh. an fear mór

(The Adjective follows the noun in Irish eg. an fear mór – in English it’s the opposite)

Dá bhrí sin (Therefore) leanann an Aidiacht rialacha an Ainmfhocail (the Adjective follows the
rules of the noun)

msh. an fear = Firinscneach = no h = an fear mór

an tsráid = Baininscneach = h = an tsráid shalach

an oifig = Baininscneach = h = an oifig dheas