cailín
Irish
Etymology
caile (“maid”) + -ín (diminutive suffix)
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "Munster" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /kaˈlʲiːnʲ/
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "Connacht" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈkalʲiːnʲ/
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "Ulster" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈkalʲinʲ/
Noun
cailín m (genitive singular cailín, nominative plural cailíní)
- girl; young, unmarried woman
- girlfriend
- female servant, maid
- useful thing (referring to a feminine noun)
- Is í an druil an cailín chun na hoibre.
- The drill is the right tool for the job.
Usage notes
- Cailín is masculine because of the suffix -ín. Nevertheless, the feminine pronouns sí and í are used to refer to it.
Declension
Declension of cailín
Bare forms
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Forms with the definite article
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Synonyms
- (girl, girlfriend): girseach, gearrchaile "young girl, little girl, prepubescent girl"
Coordinate terms
Derived terms
- cailín aimsire (“servant-girl”)
- cailín báire (“tomboy”)
- cailín bán (“stoat”)
- cailín bláthanna (“flower-girl”)
- cailín coimhdeachta (“bridesmaid”)
- cailín dearg (“tongue”)
- cailín freastail (“waitress”)
- cailín óg (“young girl; bride”)
- cailín oibre (“work-girl”)
- cailín scoile (“schoolgirl”)
- cailín siopa (“shop-girl”)
- cailín tí (“housemaid”)
Descendants
Mutation
Irish mutation | ||
---|---|---|
Radical | Lenition | Eclipsis |
cailín | chailín | gcailín |
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs. |
Further reading
- Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “cailín”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
- de Bhaldraithe, Tomás (1959) “cailín”, in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm
- “cailín”, in New English-Irish Dictionary, Foras na Gaeilge, 2013-2024