Family Words in Irish: Máthair, Athair, Deartháir and More

Talking about family is one of the first things you do in any language. Irish has clear words for each relative, and a small grammar rule you'll use every time you say "my".

Family members

English	Irish
mother	máthair
father	athair
brother	deartháir
sister	deirfiúr
son	mac
daughter	iníon
grandmother	seanmháthair
grandfather	seanathair
uncle	uncail
aunt	aintín
cousin	col ceathrar
child	páiste, leanbh
husband	fear céile
wife	bean chéile
friend	cara

Saying "my"

The word for "my" is mo, and it causes lenition (adds h after the first consonant):

• mo mháthair — my mother
• mo dheartháir — my brother
• mo chara — my friend
• mo pháiste — my child

If the word starts with a vowel, mo becomes m':

• m'athair — my father
• m'uncail — my uncle

Your, his, her

Person	Word	Example
your	do	do mháthair (your mother)
his	a (lenites)	a mháthair (his mother)
her	a (no change)	a máthair (her mother)

The difference between his mother and her mother is only the mutation, which is why listening carefully matters.

Useful sentences

• Is é seo m'athair. — This is my father.
• Tá deartháir amháin agam. — I have one brother.
• Tá deirfiúr amháin agam. — I have one sister.
• Cá bhfuil do mháthair? — Where is your mother?

Tips

1. Learn "mo" with lenition from the start.
2. Practise with your own family.
3. Use the dictionary for extended-family terms.

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