maighdean mhara
feminine
The English word mermaid is maighdean mhara in Irish. Wiktionary also lists murúch.
Meaning: mythological woman with a fish’s tail (noun)
Ways to say it
| Irish | Note |
|---|---|
| maighdean mhara | feminine |
| murúch | feminine |
The term refers to the mythological woman with a fish's tail.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase maighdean mhara is composed of maighdean, meaning 'virgin' and mhara, which is the genitive form of muir (sea), meaning 'of the sea'. Together, they literally translate to 'virgin of the sea'.
Which one should you use?
maighdean mhara is the standard and most common term used to describe a mermaid. In contrast, murúch is a more archaic or literary term.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both maighdean mhara and murúch are feminine nouns.
Did you know?
- The literary term murúch contains a hidden musical connection, as its roots refer to 'sea' and 'song'.
- In Irish, the term for a mermaid can be thought of as a 'sea maiden', highlighting a more poetic nuance than the English 'fish-woman' roots.
Examples in context
- Chonaic mé maighdean mhara sa scannán.I saw a mermaid in the movie.
Example conversation
Cian and Saoirse are looking at a book of myths.
- CianSaoirse, cé lúb an maighdean mhara seo?Saoirse, whose tail is this mermaid's?
- SaoirseNíl mé cinnte, ach tá sí go hálainn.I'm not sure, but she is beautiful.
- CianAn bhfuil maighdean mhara eile sa leabhar?Is there another mermaid in the book?
- SaoirseTá, seiceáil an leathanach seo.Yes, check this page.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mermaid” translations and entries maighdean mhara, murúch, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries maighdean, maighdean mhara, murúch, CC BY-SA 4.0.
