áiléar
/ɑːˈlʲeːɾˠ/masculine
The Irish word for attic is áiléar.
áiléar is a masculine noun used to refer to the space directly below the roof
Meaning: space directly below the roof (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain areas of Munster, áiléar is employed to describe an attic.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ɑːˈlʲeːɾˠ/
Did you know?
- While 'attic' in English describes a room, the Irish áiléar can sometimes function as a poetic synonym for the 'upper heavens' or 'sky' in certain traditional verse.
- In traditional Irish house construction, the space mentioned as áiléar was often used for storing dry peat or hay to provide extra insulation for the rooms below.
- While áiléar is the standard term, you will often hear the loanword atíc used in casual conversation across Ireland.
Examples in context
- D'fhéadfadh an áiléar a bheith an-fhuar.The attic could be very cold.
Example conversation
Aoife and Conor are cleaning the house.
- AoifeCá bhfuil an sean-bhaille, a Chonaire?Where is the old luggage, Conor?
- ConorTá sé suite sa áiléar.It is located in the attic.
- AoifeAn bhfuil an áiléar glan?Is the attic clean?
- ConorNíl sé glan go leor, a Aoife.It is not clean enough, Aoife.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “attic” translations and entries áiléar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
