fáinne

See also: fainne

Irish

fáinne

Etymology

From Old Irish áinne, from Proto-Celtic *ānnia. Possibly cognate with Latin ānus and Old Armenian անուր (anur). Initial f is prothetic. Compare Scottish Gaelic fàinne.

Pronunciation

• (Waterford) IPA^(key): [ˈfˠɑːɲə]
• (Cork, Kerry, Connacht) IPA^(key): [ˈfˠɑːn̠ʲə]
• (Ulster) IPA^(key): [ˈfˠæːn̠ʲə]

Noun

fáinne m (genitive fáinne, nominative plural fáinní)

1. ring

   Leis an bhfáinne seo, pósaim thú. — With this ring, I thee wed.

2. circle
3. ringlet, curl
4. halo

Declension

Declension of fáinne

Fourth declension

Bare forms Case Singular Plural Nominative fáinne fáinní Vocative a fháinne a fháinní Genitive fáinne fáinní Dative fáinne fáinní

Forms with the definite article Case Singular Plural Nominative an fáinne na fáinní Genitive an fháinne na bhfáinní Dative leis an bhfáinne don fháinne leis na fáinní

Derived terms

• heitreafháinneach (“heterocyclic”)
• méar an fháinne (“ring finger”)
• gásfháinne (“gas ring”)
• fáinne cluaise (“earring”)
• fáinneach (“annular”)

Descendants

• English: fainne, phoney, phony
• Romani: foni

Mutation

Irish mutation
Radical	Lenition	Eclipsis
fáinne	fháinne	bhfáinne
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.