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

• Bliain has the irregular count plural bliana:
  • trí bliana ― three years
  • seacht mbliana ― seven years
  • ceithre bliana déag ― fourteen 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

• Gregory Toner, Maire Ní Mhaonaigh, Sharon Arbuthnot, Dagmar Wodtko, Maire-Luise Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “bliadain”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
• “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.