bliain

Irish

Alternative forms

• bliadhain (dated)

Etymology

From Old Irish blíadain, from Proto-Celtic *blēdanī (“year”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bʲlʲiənʲ/

Noun

bliain f (genitive singular bliana, nominative plural blianta)

1. year

Usage notes

• After most numerals, the count plural bliana is used. After aon and dhá, the singular lenited form is used. The singular is also used after tens, except deich. The count plural is not lenited after trí through sé. It is eclipsed from seacht up to deich:
  • aon bhliain amháin ― one year
  • dhá bhliain ― two years
  • trí bliana ― three years
  • seacht mbliana ― seven years
  • fiche bliain ― twenty years
  • ochtó bliain ― eighty years

Declension

Declension of bliain

Third declension

Bare forms: Case Singular Plural Nominative bliain blianta Vocative a bhliain a bhlianta Genitive bliana blianta Dative bliain blianta

Forms with the definite article: Case Singular Plural Nominative an bhliain na blianta Genitive na bliana na mblianta Dative leis an mbliain don bhliain leis na blianta

Derived terms

• athbhliain (“new year”)
• blianacht (“annuity”)
• bliantúil (“annual”)
• i mbliana (“this year”)

Mutation

Irish mutation
Radical	Lenition	Eclipsis
bliain	bhliain	mbliain
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Further reading

• “bliadain” in Dictionary of the Irish Language, Royal Irish Academy, 1913–76.
• “bliaḋain” in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla, Irish Texts Society, 1st ed., 1904, by Patrick S. Dinneen, page 71.
• "bliain" in Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla, An Gúm, 1977, by Niall Ó Dónaill.
• Entries containing “bliain” in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm, 1959, by Tomás de Bhaldraithe.
• Entries containing “bliain” in New English-Irish Dictionary by Foras na Gaeilge.
• “bliain” at the Historical Irish Corpus, 1600–1926 of the Royal Irish Academy.