banfhlaith
/ˈbˠɑn̪ˠl̪ˠah/feminine
The English word 'princess' is expressed in Irish as banfhlaith. Wiktionary also lists iníon rí.
Meaning: female member of royal family (noun)
Ways to say it
| Irish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| banfhlaith | /ˈbˠɑn̪ˠl̪ˠah/ (Munster) | feminine |
| iníon rí | /ɪˈnʲiːn̪ˠ ɾˠiː/ (Munster, Cork, Kerry, word by word) | feminine |
The term is used to describe a female member of a royal family.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase iníon rí literally means 'daughter of a king'.
Which one should you use?
While iníon rí specifically denotes the daughter of a king, banfhlaith is a more general term for a female royal or female ruler.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'the princess' (specifically the daughter of the king) using the phrase iníon rí, you must use the genitive form of the noun rí (king), which results in iníon na rí.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbˠɑn̪ˠl̪ˠah/
Did you know?
- In ancient Irish society, the concept of flaith referred to 'sovereignty' as a goddess. A 'princess' or ruler was seen as being married to the land itself.
- The word iníon shares a common root with the Latin word indigena, meaning 'native' or 'indigenous'.
- Historically, Irish kingship was not always strictly hereditary by the firstborn son, so a woman described as iníon rí might have held significant political power in her own right.
Examples in context
- Tá an banphrionsa ag teacht go luath.The princess is coming soon.
- Bhí an banphrionsa gléasta go hálainn.The princess was dressed beautifully.
- Bhí sí ag imirt an ról cailín ríoga le séasúr eile.She was playing the role of a princess for another season.
- Is banfhlaith í an carachtar.The character is a princess.
Example conversation
Cathal and Aoife are discussing a storybook.
- CathalCé hé Thatsa an banfhlaith seo?Who is this princess?
- AoifeIs í an banfhlaith an príomhcharactar.The princess is the main character.
- CathalAn bhfuil sí go sona?Is she happy?
- AoifeTá, tá sí an-shona.Yes, she is very happy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “princess” translations and entries banfhlaith, iníon rí, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (iníon, rí) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries banfhlaith, iníon, rí, CC BY-SA 4.0.
