How to Say “Trousers” in Irish

By Laura Edna • Updated October 4, 2026

bríste

/ˈbʲɾʲiːʃtʲə/

The Irish word for trousers is bríste.

bríste is used to refer to an outer garment for the lower body that covers each leg separately.

How do you pronounce it?

/ˈbʲɾʲiːʃtʲə/

Did you know?

The word bríste is borrowed from the English word 'breeches' rather than 'trousers'.
Historical Irish dress often involved a léine or a tunic, meaning that bríste only became common as external clothing influenced by English fashion.
In Irish, bríste is a plural noun, much like the English word 'trousers' or 'pants'.

Examples in context

Tá bríste nua agam.
I have new trousers.

Sources

Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bríste, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
Word origins: Wiktionary entries bríste, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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About The Author

Laura Edna

Dia dhuit! I'm Laura, a lover of language and Irish heritage. From playing basketball to waltzing the Irish dance, my life's full of dynamic hobbies. When not "ag rince" (dancing) or munching on 'popghorn' (popcorn), I curate easy, engaging guides on how to speak Irish– providing you both formal and informal terms, even the tricky ones like how to say 'xmas'. The beauty of the Irish tongue often eludes us, but fret not! My posts are here to make it as clear as 'uisce' (water) for you. Sláinte!

Laura EdnaHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.

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