ceathrú

Irish

Alternative forms

• ceathramhadh (superseded)

Etymology

From Old Irish cethramad (“fourth”), from cethair (“four”). By surface analysis, ceathair +‎ -ú.

Pronunciation

• (Munster) IPA^(key): /cahˈɾˠuː/, /caˈɾˠuː/, /caɾˠˈhuː/
• (Connacht) IPA^(key): /ˈcahɾˠuː/, /ˈcaɾˠuː/, /ˈcaɾˠhuː/
• (Cois Fharraige) IPA^(key): /ˈcæɾˠuː/
• (Ulster) IPA^(key): /ˈcahɾˠu/

Noun

ceathrú f (genitive singular ceathrún, nominative plural ceathrúna or ceathrúnaí)

1. a quarter

   ceathrú chun a trí ― a quarter to three

   ceathrú tar éis a trí ― a quarter past three

2. thigh

   Synonym: leis

Declension

Declension of ceathrú

Fifth declension

Bare forms Case Singular Plural Nominative ceathrú ceathrúna Vocative a cheathrú a cheathrúna Genitive ceathrún ceathrúna Dative ceathrú ceathrúin (in certain phrases) ceathrúna

Forms with the definite article Case Singular Plural Nominative an cheathrú na ceathrúna Genitive na ceathrún na gceathrúna Dative leis an gceathrú don cheathrú leis na ceathrúna

• Alternative plural: ceathrúnaí (Cois Fharraige)

Derived terms

• ceathrú bhagúin (“ham”)
• deic cheathrún f (“quarterdeck”)

Adjective

ceathrú (triggers h-prothesis of a following vowel)

1. fourth

Mutation

Irish mutation
Radical	Lenition	Eclipsis
ceathrú	cheathrú	gceathrú
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Further reading

• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “ceathrú”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
• Entries containing “ceathrú” in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm, 1959, by Tomás de Bhaldraithe.
• Entries containing “ceathrú” in New English-Irish Dictionary by Foras na Gaeilge.