iora
masculine
The English word squirrel is iora in Irish. Wiktionary also lists madra crainn.
Meaning: rodent (noun)
Ways to say it
| Irish | Note |
|---|---|
| iora | masculine |
| madra crainn | masculine |
In Irish, you can refer to the rodent using the standard noun iora or the descriptive compound term madra crainn.
What does it mean word for word?
The term madra crainn is a compound of madra (dog) and crainn (of trees), which literally translates to tree dog.
Which one should you use?
Iora is the standard, single-word noun for squirrel, whereas madra crainn is a descriptive compound term.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because iora is a masculine noun, the definite article an is used to mean 'the squirrel' (an iora).
Did you know?
- The word iora descends from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂u(e)r, which was reduplicated to create the term. This ancient linguistic pattern is still visible in the word's structure.
- In Irish, the word madra (dog) is used in various compound animal names, showing how the language uses the most familiar domestic animal as a building block for describing wildlife.
- While iora is the official term, the descriptive madra crainn is often used in folk contexts or children's stories to emphasize the animal's nature.
Examples in context
- Tá mé tar éis an iora a fheiceáil san gairdín.I have seen the squirrel in the garden.
- Tá an iora beag ag damhsa sa ngairdín.The little squirrel is dancing in the garden.
Example conversation
Siobhán and Cathal are walking in a park.
- SiobhánCathal, féach ar an iora sin!Cathal, look at that squirrel!
- CathalÓ, tá sé an-gháireach.Oh, it is very cute.
- SiobhánTá sé ag ithe cnónna.It is eating nuts.
- CathalIs breá liom ioraí.I love squirrels.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “squirrel” translations and entries iora, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries iora, madra, CC BY-SA 4.0.
