portáin
The Irish word for crabs is portáin.
portáin refers to decapod crustaceans characterized by a broad shell and two pincers that live in the sea.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form for a single crab is portán. To say 'the crabs', use the definite article na before the plural form to get na portáin.
Did you know?
- There is a traditional Irish belief that seeing a crab on the beach is a sign of an incoming change in the weather or tide.
- The word portán shares a linguistic root with the word port, which in some contexts refers to a small landing place or harbour for boats.
- If you are looking for the edible kind in a traditional market, you might see them referred to as portáin mara, literally 'sea crabs', to distinguish them from land-based creatures.
Examples in context
- Tá portáin sa chuan.There are crabs in the ocean.
- An bhfuil portáin sa chuid anseo?Are there crabs in this part?
Example conversation
Oisín and Aoife are walking along the shoreline.
- OisínFéach, tá portáin ansin!Look, there are crabs there!
- AoifeÓ, tá siad go beag.Oh, they are very small.
- OisínAn féidir linn portáin a bhailiú?Can we collect crabs?
- AoifeBáirigh iad ar ais sa tír.Put them back in the sand.
