Idir (between)

The preposition idir primarily means “between” or “among”. Its meaning can change the mutation it causes on the following word. Unusually for a preposition, its conjugated forms are only used for plural pronouns in modern standard Irish.

Mutations after idir

The initial mutation caused by idir depends on its meaning and whether it is followed by the definite article an.

Without the Article

When idir is not followed by the article, the mutation depends on the context:

• No lenition for distance, time, difference, or contrast.

  • idir Corcaigh agus Baile Átha Cliath - between Cork and Dublin

• Lenition when it means “among”, “both… and…”, or “partly… partly…”.

  • idir mhná - among women

When used with agus or is to mean “both… and…”, the lenition also applies to the word after agus/is.

• idir fhear is bhean - both man and woman

However, lenition does not apply to d, t, or s after agus/is.

• idir shúgradh agus dáiríre - partly in jest, partly in earnest

With the Article

When idir is followed by the definite article, the standard mutation rules for the article apply.

• In the singular, the noun mutates as it would in the nominative case.

  • idir an t-oileán agus an mhór-roinn - between the island and the mainland (oileán is masculine, mór-roinn is feminine)

• In the plural, the noun mutates as it would in the plural nominative case, which means a h-prefix is added to vowels.

  • idir na hÉireannaigh - among the Irish

Conjugated Forms (Plural Only)

In modern Irish, idir is only combined with pronouns in the plural. To express “between me and you”, you use the preposition with the standalone pronouns: idir mise agus tusa.

In Munster and Connacht, the conjugated plural forms are not typically used in enumerations with agus. Instead, the preposition is repeated or implied with the standalone pronoun.

• idir iad agus na daoine eile - between them and the other people
• Dia idir sinn is an t-olc - God (be) between us and evil

Usage and Examples

Spatial: “between”

• idir Baile Átha Cliath agus Gaillimh - between Dublin and Galway

Temporal: “between”

• idir an dó agus an trí - between two and three (o’clock)

Figurative: “between”

• cogadh idir Sasana agus an Fhrainc - a war between England and France

Paired Enumeration: “both… and…”

This construction uses idir with agus or is and triggers lenition.

• idir fhear agus bhean - both men and women
• idir balla agus ceann - walls and roof
• idir shean agus óg - both young and old

Partly… partly…

• idir mhagadh is dáiríre - half in jest, half in earnest
• idir gháire is ghol - between laughter and weeping

Among

• eadrainn féin an chaint seo - this is to stay between us (literally, “among ourselves this talk”)
• rún idir mhná - a secret among women
• an bhean is áille idir Éireannaigh - the most beautiful woman among the Irish

Idiomatic Phrases

• idir an dá linn - in the meantime
• idir amanna - now and then
• idir eatarthu - so-so, half and half
• idir lámha - in progress, underway
• idir chamáin - under discussion

Asking Questions

To ask “between whom?” or “between what?”, you use the conjugated form eatarthu with the appropriate question word. This construction requires an indirect relative clause.

• Cé eatarthu…? - Between whom…?
• Cad eatarthu / Cé eatarthu / Cá (h)eatarthu…? - Between what…?