foirgneamh
/ˈfˠɔɾʲɪɟənʲəvˠ/masculine
The Irish word for building is foirgneamh.
The word foirgneamh refers to a closed structure with walls and a roof.
Meaning: closed structure with walls and a roof (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈfˠɔɾʲɪɟənʲəvˠ/
Did you know?
- In traditional Irish culture, the 'building' of a house involved a custom called 'meitheal', where the entire community helped for free to ensure the structure was completed.
- The root of foirgneamh is the word gním, which means 'action' or 'doing'. This makes the word literally describe the act of 'super-doing' or constructing something.
- Irish has no single word for 'skyscraper'. Instead, it uses phrases like foirgneamh an-ard, which literally means 'a very high building'.
Examples in context
- Chuaigh an foirgneamh ó úinéir go húinéir cúpla uair.The building passed from owner to owner.This sentence shows the use of foirgneamh in the context of property ownership.Tatoeba #10273893 by mbm, translation #12480117 by reubsboyd
- Níl an foirgneamh sin réidh fós.That building is not ready yet.
- Tá an foirgneamh nua réidh.The new building is ready.
Example conversation
Conor and Siobhán are walking through the city center.
- ConorCéard is an foirgneamh sin, a Siobhán?What is that building, Siobhán?
- SiobhánIs leabharlann í, a Chonaire.It is a library, Conor.
- ConorTá an foirgneamh go hálainn.The building is beautiful.
- SiobhánTá sé an-sean.It is very old.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “building” translations and entries foirgneamh, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries foirgneamh, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
