Máire
/ˈmˠɑːɾʲə/feminine
The English name Mary is translated into Irish as Máire.
Máire is the Irish equivalent of the female given name Mary.
Meaning: female given name (name)
Which one should you use?
One informal way to address a person named Mary is Máirín.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈmˠɑːɾʲə/
Did you know?
- Because the name Máire is so common, it was historically used in Irish folklore as a generic name for a woman, similar to how 'Jane Doe' is used in English legal contexts.
- The name Máire is a doublet of the Irish name Muire, which is used specifically for the Virgin Mary in a religious context.
- The diminutive Máirín is not just a nickname but is often used as a standalone legal name in Ireland.
Examples in context
- Chuimil Máire a súile lena náprún.Mary wiped her eyes with her apron.This sentence shows the use of Máire in a simple narrative context.Tatoeba #4062780 by tinybat, translation #4061753 by Hybrid
- An bhfuil Máire anseo?Is Mary here?
- Sin é Máire.That is Mary.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Siobhán and Conor are looking for their friend in a cafe.
- SiobhánAn bh fheiceann tú Máire?Do you see Mary?
- ConorNí fhaca mé í.I haven't seen her.
- SiobhánAn bhfuil Máire ag teacht?Is Mary coming?
- ConorTá sí ag teacht anois.She is coming now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mary” translations and entries Máire, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Máire, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
