matal
masculine
The Irish word for mantelpiece is matal. Wiktionary also lists clabhar.
Meaning: shelf (noun)
Ways to say it
| Irish | Note |
|---|---|
| matal | masculine |
| clabhar | masculine |
matal is used to refer to a shelf.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because matal is a masculine noun, it takes the article an in the nominative case (e.g., an matal for 'the shelf').
Did you know?
- The word matal is a direct descendant of the Old Norse word 'mǫttull', which also meant a cloak or a cape.
- Despite the word being used for a 'shelf' in modern Irish, its cognates in other European languages often still refer to 'capes' or 'cloaks'.
- Because the word is related to 'cloak', the concept of a 'mantelpiece' in Irish is etymologically tied to something that 'covers' or 'envelopes' the fireplace.
Example sentences for Irish are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Conor and Niamh are decorating the living room.
- ConorNiamh, cá bhfuil an t-uisce?Niamh, where is the water?
- NiamhTá sé ar an matal, a Chonaire.It is on the mantelpiece, Conor.
- ConorGo raibh maith agat.Thank you.
- NiamhNí thuigim cá bhfuil tú.I don't understand where you are.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mantelpiece” translations and entries matal, clabhar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries matal, CC BY-SA 4.0.
