buachaill
/ˈbˠuəxəlʲ/masculine
The Irish word for boyfriend is buachaill. If unsure, use buachaill. Wiktionary also lists stócach.
Meaning: male partner in a romantic relationship (noun)
Ways to say it
| Irish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| buachaill | /ˈbˠuəxəlʲ/ (Munster) /ˈbˠuəxəl̠ʲ/ (Connacht) |
masculine |
| stócach | /ˈsˠt̪ˠoːkəx/ (Connacht, Munster) /ˈsˠt̪ˠɔːka(x)/ (Ulster) |
masculine |
The term is used to refer to a male partner in a romantic relationship. While the word is often used colloquially to mean a romantic partner, it is also the standard word for a boy.
Which one should you use?
buachaill literally means 'boy', but it is used in certain contexts to mean 'boyfriend'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbˠuəxəlʲ/
When do people say it?
In informal settings, someone might use the term Mo Ghrá (meaning 'my love') to refer to a boyfriend.
Did you know?
- The word buachaill is distantly related to the English word 'cow', as both trace back to the Proto-Indo-European root for cattle.
- The evolution of buachaill shows a shift from a specific job title for a youth to a general term for a male child and eventually a romantic partner.
Examples in context
- Ní theastaíonn buachaill uait.You don't need a boyfriend.This sentence is useful for expressing that a boyfriend is not needed.Tatoeba #8239945 by SadeceTurkce, translation #7986859 by SadeceTurkce
- Tá buachaill aici.She has a boyfriend.This sentence is useful for stating that someone possesses a boyfriend.Tatoeba #7075958 by azraelgnosis, translation #7075959 by azraelgnosis
Example conversation
Aoife is talking to Conor about a friend.
- ConorAn bhfuil buachaill ag Máire?Does Máire have a boyfriend?
- AoifeTá, tá buachaill nua aici.Yes, she has a new boyfriend.
- ConorCé hiomhsúil é an buachaill?Who is the boyfriend?
- AoifeIs é Seán an buachaill.Seán is the boyfriend.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “boyfriend” translations and entries buachaill, stócach, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries buachaill, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
