nathair

Irish

Etymology

From Old Irish nathir, from Proto-Celtic *natrixs (compare Welsh neidr, Breton naer), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)néHtr̥, from *(s)neh₁- (“to spin, twist”) (compare German Natter, English adder, Latin natrīx (“water snake”)).

Pronunciation
  • (Munster) IPA(key): /ˈn̪ˠɑhəɾʲ/
  • (Aran) IPA(key): /ˈn̪ˠæhəɾʲ/

Noun

nathair f (genitive singular nathrach, nominative plural nathracha)

  1. snake

Declension
Declension of nathair

Fifth declension

Bare forms

Case Singular Plural
Nominative nathair nathracha
Vocative a nathair a nathracha
Genitive nathrach nathracha
Dative nathair
nathraigh (archaic, dialectal)		 nathracha

Forms with the definite article

Case Singular Plural
Nominative an nathair na nathracha
Genitive na nathrach na nathracha
Dative leis an nathair
leis an nathraigh (archaic, dialectal)

don nathair
don nathraigh (archaic, dialectal)

 leis na nathracha

Derived terms
  • nathairín (“serpentine”)
  • nathartha (“snake-like”)

Further reading

Old Irish

Noun

nathair f

  1. Alternative spelling of nathir

Mutation
Old Irish mutation
RadicalLenitionNasalization
nathair
also nnathair after a proclitic		 nathair
pronounced with /n(ʲ)-/		 unchanged
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every
possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

From Old Irish nathir, from Proto-Celtic *natrixs (compare Welsh neidr, Breton naer), from Proto-Indo-European *nh₁trih₂, from *sneh₁- (“to spin, twist”) (compare snìomh, English adder, Latin natrīx (“water snake”)). Related to snàth (“thread”), snàthad (“needle”).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈn̪ˠahɪɾʲ/

Noun

nathair f (genitive singular nathrach, plural nathraichean)

  1. A snake, serpent, or adder
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