beoir
/bʲoːɾʲ/feminine
The English word beer is beoir in Irish. Wiktionary also lists leann.
Meaning: alcoholic drink made of malt (noun)
Ways to say it
| Irish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| beoir | /bʲoːɾʲ/ (Connacht, Munster) /bʲɔːɾʲ/ (Ulster) |
feminine |
| leann | /lʲɑun̪ˠ/ (Munster) /l̠ʲɑːn̪ˠ/ (Galway) |
masculine |
The word is used to refer to an alcoholic drink made of malt.
Which one should you use?
While beoir is the general word for beer, leann specifically refers to ale or a stronger type of beer.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form beoir is a feminine noun, whereas leann is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/bʲoːɾʲ/
Did you know?
- The word leann can also be traced back to a word meaning a 'cloak' or 'mantle', suggesting a historical connection between liquid and covering.
- In traditional Irish culture, the act of brewing was often associated with women, who managed the household's ale production.
- While beoir is used for the drink, the word leann is more likely to appear in old Irish poetry and folklore describing feasts.
Examples in context
- Níl aon beoir anseo.There's no beer here.This sentence is useful for stating that there is no beoir in a specific location.Tatoeba #7809334 by eo_as, translation #423144 by CM
- Cén sórt leanna atá agat?What kind of beer do you have?
Example conversation
Saoirse and Cathal are at a pub.
- SaoirseCathal, an dtuig tú an t-ordú?Cathal, did you understand the order?
- CathalTá, ach níl beoir ag an mbargaí.Yes, but the bartender has no beer.
- SaoirseAn bhfuil beoir eile ann?Is there another beer there?
- CathalNíl, tá siad folleach go léir.No, they are all cold.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beer” translations and entries beoir, leann, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries beoir, leann, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
