iníon
/ɪˈnʲiːn̪ˠ/feminine
The Irish word for daughter is iníon.
iníon is a feminine noun used to refer to a female offspring.
Meaning: female offspring (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
When used after certain pronouns or adjectives, such as ár (our) or a (his/her), the word undergoes a spelling change to n-iníon to assist with pronunciation.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɪˈnʲiːn̪ˠ/
Did you know?
- While the word translates to 'daughter', its linguistic roots are tied to the concept of being 'born' or 'produced', much like the English word 'engine' comes from a root meaning to produce or make.
- In some traditional Irish naming customs, a daughter might be referred to by her father's name using a specific formula, rather than just by her own name.
- In Old Irish, the form ingen evolved into the modern iníon, but it still survives in many traditional Irish surnames and place names.
Examples in context
- Cá bhfuil ár n-iníon?Where's our daughter?This sentence shows how to use the form iníon after the word ár (our).Tatoeba #11483315 by janTuki, translation #11483004 by shekitten
- Tá m'iníon ag tvuíteáil anois.My daughter is tweeting now.This sentence demonstrates the use of the form iníon with a possessive adjective.Tatoeba #3945069 by turklehceleri, translation #3945068 by turklehceleri
- Tá iníon aici agus Mary is ainm di.She has a daughter whose name is Mary.This sentence shows how to use the form iníon to describe a relationship.Tatoeba #630752 by niq, translation #308718 by CK
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Cathal and Niamh are talking about their family.
- CathalAn bhfuil do iníon ansin?Is your daughter there?
- NiamhTá, tá sí ag súcsú.Yes, she is studying.
- CathalIs hí sin an iníon is óige?Is she the youngest daughter?
- NiamhNí hea, is é an mac an óige.No, the son is the youngest.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “daughter” translations and entries iníon, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries iníon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
