maighdean f ainnir
feminine
The Irish word for maiden is maighdean f ainnir. Wiktionary also lists bruinneall and bé.
Meaning: unmarried young female (noun)
Ways to say it
| Irish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| maighdean f ainnir | feminine | |
| bruinneall | feminine | |
| bé | /bʲeː/ | feminine, literary |
The term refers to an unmarried young female.
Which one should you use?
maighdean is the standard and most common way to refer to a maiden or a young woman. In contrast, bé is a poetic or highly literary term, while bruinneall is an archaic or old-fashioned term.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Use bé if you are writing poetry or literature, and bruinneall if you wish to use an archaic style.
Did you know?
- The word maighdean is not an original Celtic word, but was actually borrowed from the Old English 'mæġden'.
- In ancient Irish-language texts, the term ainnir could be used to describe a married woman, rather than just an unmarried one.
Example sentences for Irish are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Saoirse and Cathal are discussing a character in an old folk tale.
- SaoirseCéistid an maighdean f ainnir an t-uisce.The fair maiden questioned the water.
- CathalAn raibh sí ag lorg an rí?Was she looking for the king?
- SaoirseTá, bhí sí ina maighdean f ainnir uasal.Yes, she was a noble fair maiden.
- CathalIs scéal iontach é sin, a Saoirse.That is a wonderful story, Saoirse.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “maiden” translations and entries bruinneall, bé, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ainnir, bruinneall, bé, maighdean, CC BY-SA 4.0.
