Meaning & use
Irish
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Belonging to or relating to Ireland, its people, or its culture.
Grammar: Used before a noun, as in 'Irish music'; not after a verb like 'be' unless you mean the language.
Patterns
- Irish + noun
She loves Irish music and dances.
The Irish government announced new rules.
He has an Irish passport.
noununcountable
The Celtic language spoken in Ireland.
Grammar: Uncountable, so you say 'Irish is difficult' not 'an Irish'.
Patterns
- speak Irish
- learn Irish
My grandmother speaks Irish fluently.
Irish is taught in many schools in Ireland.
nounplural
The people of Ireland as a group.
Grammar: Used with 'the' and a plural verb: 'The Irish are friendly.'
Patterns
- the Irish
The Irish are known for their hospitality.
The Irish have a long history of emigration.
Common combinations
- Irish whiskey
- He ordered a glass of Irish whiskey.
- Irish coffee
- We warmed up with Irish coffee after the walk.
- Irish setter
- Their Irish setter is very friendly.
- Irish stew
- She cooked a traditional Irish stew for dinner.
Synonyms and how they differ
- Gaelic
- Often used for the language, especially Scottish Gaelic; 'Irish' is the usual term for the language of Ireland.
Word family
- Ireland proper noun
- The country in Western Europe.
- Irishman noun
- A man from Ireland.
- Irishwoman noun
- A woman from Ireland.
Commonly confused: Irish or Scotland?
Irish vs Scotland
Scotland is a different country; its people are Scottish, not Irish.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'Irish' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Irish' is an uncountable noun when it means the language, so no article or plural is used. The other options wrongly add an article or plural.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Irish”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.