Éire
/ˈeːɾʲə/feminine
The Irish word for Ireland is Éire.
Éire is the name used to refer to the country of Ireland.
Meaning: country (name)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Ulster dialect, Airlann is sometimes used instead of Éire.
How does it change in a sentence?
Éire is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈeːɾʲə/
Did you know?
- The word Éire is derived from the name of a mythical goddess named Ériu, who was said to be the ancestress of the Irish people.
- The word Éire likely descends from the Proto-Celtic word *Φīweriyū, though the specific spelling of the first letter remains an unexplained oddity for linguists.
- Although Éire is the native name, Irish passports use both Éire and 'Ireland' to ensure international recognition.
Examples in context
- Táim ag dul go hÉireann i mbliana.I am going to Ireland this year.
- Tá áthas orm a bheith sa bhaile i dTír Chonaill i dTuaisceart Airlann.I'm happy to be home in County Donegal in Northern Ireland.
- Tá Éire go hiontach.Ireland is wonderful.
Example conversation
Aoife and Conor are discussing their travel plans.
- AoifeAn bhfuil tú ag dul go dtí Éire an samhradh seo?Are you going to Ireland this summer?
- ConorTá, táim ag dul go dtí Éire iúil.Yes, I am going to Ireland again.
- AoifeIs iontach an áit í Éire.Ireland is a wonderful place.
- ConorTá tú ceart, a Aoife.You are right, Aoife.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ireland” translations and entries Éire, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Éire, CC BY-SA 4.0.
