Second Declension

The second declension is a large and important group of nouns in Irish. It consists almost entirely of feminine nouns, making it a key pattern to learn for correctly using adjectives and pronouns. These nouns can end in either a broad or a slender consonant.

This declension includes:

• Almost exclusively feminine nouns. The only common masculine nouns in this group are im (butter), sliabh (mountain), and teach (house).
• Nouns ending in either a broad or a slender consonant.
• Many polysyllabic feminine nouns ending in -(e)ach, such as báisteach (rain).

Genitive Singular

The genitive singular is formed by adding the ending -e. The way this happens depends on the final consonant of the noun.

Nouns Ending in a Slender Consonant

If the noun already ends in a slender consonant, you simply add -e.

• dath na coille - the colour of the forest (from coill)
• dath na súile - the colour of the eye (from súil)

Nouns Ending in a Broad Consonant

If the noun ends in a broad consonant, the consonant is first made slender (palatalised), and then -e is added. This often involves a vowel change in the final syllable.

• praghas na bróige - the price of the shoe (from bróg)
• cnámh na láimhe - the bone of the hand (from lámh)
• barr an tsléibhe - the top of the mountain (from sliabh)

Disyllabic Nouns

In some two-syllable nouns, the second vowel is dropped (a process called syncope). This causes the consonant before it to become slender.

• deireadh na hoibre - the end of the work (from obair)
• dath na seimre - the colour of the clover (from seamair)

Nouns Ending in -(e)ach

Polysyllabic nouns ending in -(e)ach, along with the masculine noun teach, form their genitive by adding -(a)í.

• solas na gealaí - the light of the moon (from gealach)
• fuaim na báistí - the sound of the rain (from báisteach)
• doras an tí - the door of the house (from teach)

However, monosyllabic nouns ending in -och, -each, or -uach follow the standard pattern of making the final consonant slender and adding -e. This results in endings like -oiche, -eiche, and -uaiche.

Dative Singular

Historically, nouns with a broad consonant formed a distinct dative singular by making the final consonant slender. Today, this form is rare in the standard language but is important for understanding other parts of the grammar.

In Standard Irish, a unique dative form is only consistently used for five common nouns:

• lámh → láimh (hand)
• bos → bois (palm)
• bróg → bróig (shoe)
• cluas → cluais (ear)
• cos → cois (foot/leg)

• Chuir sé an fáinne ar a láimh. - He put the ring on her hand.

The dative singular form is identical to the nominative dual, which is used after the number two (dhá).

• dhá bhróig - two shoes
• dhá láimh - two hands

Nominative Plural

Second declension nouns can have either “weak” or “strong” plurals.

Weak Plurals

The most common plural ending is -a or -e.

• If the noun ends in a broad consonant, -a is usually added.
  • long → longa (ships)
  • póg → póga (kisses)
  • cloch → clocha (stones)
• If the noun ends in a slender consonant, -e is usually added.
  • súil → súile (eyes)
• Some nouns ending in a slender consonant first make the consonant broad (depalatalise) and then add -a.
  • binn → beanna (peaks)
  • deoir → deora (tears)

Strong Plurals

Less commonly, nouns form a strong plural with endings like -anna, -acha, -ta, or -tha.

• áit → áiteanna (places)
• craobh → craobhacha (branches)
• tonn → tonnta (waves)
• tír → tíortha (countries)

A regular pattern exists for polysyllabic nouns ending in a slender consonant: they form a strong plural with the ending -í.

• aimsir → aimsirí (weathers, times)
• oifig → oifigí (offices)
• abairt → abairtí (sentences)

Genitive Plural

The form of the genitive plural depends on whether the nominative plural is weak or strong.

Nouns with Weak Plurals

For nouns with a weak plural, the genitive plural is identical to the nominative singular, but the final consonant is usually made broad (depalatalised) if it was slender.

• dath na súl - the colour of the eyes (Nom. Sg: súil)
• fuaim na gceall - the sound of the churches (Nom. Sg: cill)
• airde na mbeann - the height of the peaks (Nom. Sg: binn)

Nouns with Strong Plurals

For nouns with a strong plural, the genitive plural is identical to the nominative plural.

• liosta na n-áiteanna - the list of the places (Nom. Pl: áiteanna)
• deireadh na n-oibreacha - the end of the works (Nom. Pl: oibreacha)

Summary of Patterns

Declension Patterns

This table summarises the main patterns for nouns with weak plurals.

Polysyllabic nouns ending in a slender consonant often have a strong plural in -í, which is also used for the genitive plural.

Common Endings

This table shows how nouns with certain common endings typically decline.

Examples of Second Declension Nouns

Here are some common nouns from the second declension, showing their forms.

Clann (children, family)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: clainne
• Dative Singular: clainn
• Nominative Plural: clanna
• Genitive Plural: clann
• Sin iad baill na clainne. - Those are the members of the family.

Fuinneog (window)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: fuinneoige
• Dative Singular: fuinneoig
• Nominative Plural: fuinneoga
• Genitive Plural: fuinneog
• D’oscail sí an fhuinneog. - She opened the window.

Gasóg (scout)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: gasóige
• Dative Singular: gasóig
• Nominative Plural: gasóga
• Genitive Plural: gasóg
• Bhí na gasóga ag máirseáil. - The scouts were marching.

Bróg (shoe)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: bróige
• Dative Singular: bróig
• Nominative Plural: bróga
• Genitive Plural: bróg
• Cheannaigh mé péire bróg nua. - I bought a new pair of shoes.

Cláirseach (harp)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: cláirsí
• Dative Singular: cláirsigh
• Nominative Plural: cláirseacha
• Genitive Plural: cláirseach
• Is í an chláirseach siombail na hÉireann. - The harp is the symbol of Ireland.

Báisteach (rain)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: báistí
• Dative Singular: báistigh
• Plural: Not typically used.
• Thosaigh an bháisteach ag titim. - The rain started to fall.

Gealach (moon, moonlight)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: gealaí
• Dative Singular: gealaigh
• Nominative Plural: gealacha
• Genitive Plural: gealach
• Bhí solas na gealaí go hálainn. - The light of the moon was beautiful.

Gallúnach (soap)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: gallúnaí
• Dative Singular: gallúnaigh
• Nominative Plural: gallúnacha
• Genitive Plural: gallúnach
• Nigh do lámha leis an ngallúnach. - Wash your hands with the soap.

Leabharlann (library)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: leabharlainne
• Dative Singular: leabharlainn
• Nominative Plural: leabharlanna
• Genitive Plural: leabharlann
• Chaith mé an lá sa leabharlann. - I spent the day in the library.

Saotharlann (laboratory)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: saotharlainne
• Dative Singular: saotharlainn
• Nominative Plural: saotharlanna
• Genitive Plural: saotharlann
• Tá an tsaotharlann dúnta. - The laboratory is closed.

Fearg (anger)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: feirge
• Dative Singular: feirg
• Plural: Not typically used.
• Líonadh le fearg é. - He was filled with anger.

Lámh (hand, arm)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: láimhe
• Dative Singular: láimh
• Nominative Plural: lámha
• Genitive Plural: lámh
• Shín sé amach a lámh. - He stretched out his hand.

Long (ship)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: loinge
• Dative Singular: loing
• Nominative Plural: longa
• Genitive Plural: long
• Chonaic siad long sa chuan. - They saw a ship in the harbour.

Cearc (hen)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: circe
• Dative Singular: circ
• Nominative Plural: cearca
• Genitive Plural: cearc
• Tá na cearca sa ghairdín. - The hens are in the garden.

Glúin (knee)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: glúine
• Dative Singular: glúin
• Nominative Plural: glúine
• Genitive Plural: glún
• Ghortaigh sé a ghlúin. - He hurt his knee.

Súil (eye)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: súile
• Dative Singular: súil
• Nominative Plural: súile
• Genitive Plural: súl
• Tá súile gorma aici. - She has blue eyes.

Cill (churchyard, cell)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: cille
• Dative Singular: cill
• Nominative Plural: cealla
• Genitive Plural: ceall
• Tá an chill lán de sheanuaigheanna. - The churchyard is full of old graves.

Deoir (tear)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: deoire
• Dative Singular: deoir
• Nominative Plural: deora
• Genitive Plural: deor
• Bhí deora ina súile. - There were tears in her eyes.

Seamair (clover, shamrock)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: seimre
• Dative Singular: seamair
• Nominative Plural: seamra
• Genitive Plural: seamar
• Is í an tseamair siombail eile d’Éirinn. - The shamrock is another symbol of Ireland.

Leac (flat stone, slab)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: leice
• Dative Singular: leic
• Nominative Plural: leaca
• Genitive Plural: leac
• Bhí sé ina shuí ar leic mhór. - He was sitting on a big flat stone.

Slat (rod, stick)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: slaite
• Dative Singular: slait
• Nominative Plural: slata
• Genitive Plural: slat
• D’úsáid sé slat chun an t-iasc a ghabháil. - He used a rod to catch the fish.

Glac (handful, grasp)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: glaice
• Dative Singular: glaic
• Nominative Plural: glaca
• Genitive Plural: glac
• Thóg sé glac gainimh. - He took a handful of sand.

Speal (scythe)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: speile
• Dative Singular: speil
• Nominative Plural: speala
• Genitive Plural: speal
• Bhí an feirmeoir ag baint an fhéir le speal. - The farmer was cutting the grass with a scythe.

Scian (knife)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: scine
• Dative Singular: scin
• Nominative Plural: sceana
• Genitive Plural: sceana
• Bí cúramach leis an scian sin. - Be careful with that knife.

Coill (forest, wood)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: coille
• Dative Singular: coill
• Nominative Plural: coillte (strong)
• Genitive Plural: coillte (strong)
• Chuaigh siad ag siúl sa choill. - They went for a walk in the forest.

Slinn (shingle, slate)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: slinne
• Dative Singular: slinn
• Nominative Plural: slinnte (strong)
• Genitive Plural: slinnte (strong)
• Tá an díon déanta de shlinnte. - The roof is made of slates.

Moill (delay, hindrance)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: moille
• Dative Singular: moill
• Nominative Plural: moilleanna (strong)
• Genitive Plural: moilleanna (strong)
• Bhí moill ar an traein. - The train was delayed.

Nead (nest)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: neide
• Dative Singular: neid
• Nominative Plural: neadacha (strong)
• Genitive Plural: neadacha (strong)
• Tá nead sa chrann. - There is a nest in the tree.

Obair (work)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: oibre
• Dative Singular: obair
• Nominative Plural: oibreacha (strong)
• Genitive Plural: oibreacha (strong)
• Tá a lán oibre le déanamh agam. - I have a lot of work to do.

Abairt (sentence)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: abairte
• Dative Singular: abairt
• Nominative Plural: abairtí (strong)
• Genitive Plural: abairtí (strong)
• Scríobh abairt iomlán. - Write a full sentence.

Oifig (office)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: oifige
• Dative Singular: oifig
• Nominative Plural: oifigí (strong)
• Genitive Plural: oifigí (strong)
• Tá mé ag obair san oifig. - I am working in the office.

Aisling (dream, vision)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: aislinge
• Dative Singular: aisling
• Nominative Plural: aislingí (strong)
• Genitive Plural: aislingí (strong)
• Bhí aisling aige aréir. - He had a dream last night.

Scilling (shilling)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: scillinge
• Dative Singular: scilling
• Nominative Plural: scillingí (strong)
• Genitive Plural: scillingí (strong)
• Chosain sé scilling. - It cost a shilling.

Inchinn (brain)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: inchinne
• Dative Singular: inchinn
• Nominative Plural: inchinní (strong)
• Genitive Plural: inchinní (strong)
• Is í an inchinn an t-orgán is casta. - The brain is the most complex organ.

Liathróid (ball)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: liathróide
• Dative Singular: liathróid
• Nominative Plural: liathróidí (strong)
• Genitive Plural: liathróidí (strong)
• Chaith sé an liathróid chugam. - He threw the ball to me.

Gearmáinis (the German language)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: Gearmáinise
• Dative Singular: Gearmáinis
• Plural: Not used.
• Tá Gearmáinis líofa aici. - She speaks fluent German.

Iodáilis (the Italian language)

• Gender: Feminine
• Genitive Singular: Iodáilise
• Dative Singular: Iodáilis
• Plural: Not used.
• An dtuigeann tú Iodáilis? - Do you understand Italian?

Teach (house)

• Gender: Masculine (Exception)
• Genitive Singular: tí
• Dative Singular: tigh
• Nominative Plural: tithe (strong)
• Genitive Plural: tithe (strong)
• Tá teach mór aige. - He has a big house.

Sliabh (mountain)

• Gender: Masculine (Exception)
• Genitive Singular: sléibhe
• Dative Singular: sléibh
• Nominative Plural: sléibhte (strong)
• Genitive Plural: sléibhte (strong)
• Dreap siad an sliabh. - They climbed the mountain.

Im (butter)

• Gender: Masculine (Exception)
• Genitive Singular: ime
• Dative Singular: im
• Nominative Plural: imeanna (strong)
• Genitive Plural: imeanna (strong)
• Cuir im ar an arán. - Put butter on the bread.