Béal Feirste
/ˌbʲeːl̪ˠ ˈfʲɛɾˠʃtʲə/masculine
The Irish word for Belfast is Béal Feirste.
Béal Feirste is the name of the capital of Northern Ireland.
Meaning: capital of Northern Ireland (name)
How does it change in a sentence?
The name is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌbʲeːl̪ˠ ˈfʲɛɾˠʃtʲə/
Did you know?
- The word béal originates from the Old Irish bél, which is related to the Welsh word gwefl meaning 'animal lip'.
- The name Béal Feirste is not just a label but a topographical map in words. It describes a specific landscape feature called a 'tidal ford' where crossing was only possible at low tide.
- The first part of Béal Feirste is a common building block for Irish coastal towns. You will find this same Béal element in other place names like Béal Átha.
Examples in context
- Is féidir liom dul go Béal Feirste.I can go to Belfast.
- An bhfuil tú i Béal Feirste?Are you in Belfast?
Example conversation
Two friends are planning a trip.
- SaoirseAn bhfuil tú ag dul go Béal Feirste?Are you going to Belfast?
- ConorTá, tá mé ag dul an tshamhradh seo.Yes, I am going this summer.
- SaoirseBa mór an t-athrú é Béal Feirste.Belfast would be a great change.
- ConorTá mé an-shólásach faoi leis.I am very excited about it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “belfast” translations and entries Béal Feirste, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Béal Feirste, béal, CC BY-SA 4.0.
