beach
/bʲax/feminine
The Irish word for bee is beach.
The word refers to the insect itself.
Meaning: insect (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of Ulster, the word Mil, which translates to honey, can also be used to refer to bees.
How do you pronounce it?
/bʲax/
Did you know?
- There is an old Irish custom of 'telling the bees', where important family news like deaths or marriages is whispered to the beach to prevent them from leaving the hive.
- In Irish folklore, bees are often seen as messengers between this world and the otherworld, meaning they are treated with great reverence in traditional stories.
- The word beach comes from an ancient root that originally described the act of 'to swell' or 'to grow'.
Examples in context
- Tá tú chomh saothrach le beach i gcónaí.You are always as busy as a bee.This sentence shows how to use beach in a comparison regarding being busy.Tatoeba #4521754 by sadiavt, translation #16760 by CC
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Aoife and Cathal are walking in a garden.
- AoifeCathal, féach ar an beach sin!Cathal, look at that bee!
- CathalÓ, tá sí go hálainn.Oh, it is beautiful.
- AoifeNá bí tú ag rith ina croma.Don't run towards it.
- CathalTá mé go holc, ní bheidh mé.I am sorry, I won't.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bee” translations and entries beach, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries beach, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
