faill

Irish

Pronunciation

• (Munster) IPA^(key): /fˠɑilʲ/

Etymology 1

From Old Irish fall, from Proto-Celtic *walsā.

Noun

faill f (genitive singular faille, nominative plural failleanna)

1. (literary) negligence, omission
2. unguarded state
3. chance, opportunity
   • 1939, Peig Sayers, “Inghean an Cheannaidhe”, in Marie-Louise Sjoestedt, Description d’un parler irlandais de Kerry (Bibliothèque de l'École des Hautes Études; 270) (overall work in French), Paris: Librairie Honoré Champion, page 194:

     Rógaire do b’eadh an máta agus do bhí sé ag faire ar fhaill a fhagháil ar an gcaptaen.

     The mate was a rogue and he was looking for an opportunity to trick the captain.

4. time, occasion
5. cessation, easement

Declension

Declension of faill (second declension)

bare forms singular plural nominative faill failleanna vocative a fhaill a fhailleanna genitive faille failleanna dative faill failleanna forms with the definite article singular plural nominative an fhaill na failleanna genitive na faille na bhfailleanna dative leis an bhfaill don fhaill leis na failleanna

Related terms

• failléan
• faillí
• failligh
• faillitheach
• faillitheacht
• faillitheoir

Etymology 2

See aill.

Noun

faill f (genitive singular faille, nominative plural faillte or faillteacha)

1. alternative form of aill (“cliff, precipice”)

Declension

Declension of faill (second declension)

bare forms singular plural nominative faill faillte vocative a fhaill a fhaillte genitive faille faillte dative faill faillte forms with the definite article singular plural nominative an fhaill na faillte genitive na faille na bhfaillte dative leis an bhfaill don fhaill leis na faillte

• Alternative plural form: faillteacha

Mutation

Mutated forms of faill

radical	lenition	eclipsis
faill	fhaill	bhfaill

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Modern Irish.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

Further reading

• A. Palandri, Ú. Bhreathnach, M. Měchura, G. Ó Cleircín, and B. Ó Raghallaigh, (2026), “faill”, in Taisce Chanúintí na Gaeilge - Repository of Irish Dialects‎^[1] (in Irish and English), Dublin City University
• Dinneen, Patrick S. (1927), “faill”, in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla [Irish and English Dictionary], 2nd edition, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, page 416; reprinted with additions 1996, →ISBN
• “faill”, in Foclóir Nua Gaeilge (in Irish), Foras na Gaeilge, 2013–2026
• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977), “faill”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla [Irish–English Dictionary], Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN

Manx

Etymology 1

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Verb

faill (verbal noun failleil or fajeil)

1. fail, fall short, decline

Etymology 2

From Old Irish fochell, the verbal noun of fo·cíallathar.

Verb

faill (verbal noun failley, past participle failt)

1. hire, employ, engage

Noun

faill f (genitive singular faillee)

1. wages

Mutation

Mutation of faill

radical	lenition	eclipsis
faill	aill	vaill

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Manx.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.