irlandés
/eer-lahn-DESS/
Irish
Irlandés as an adjective often refers to something of Irish origin, like this traditional Irish harp.
irlandés(adjective)
Irish
?nationality or origin (e.g., Irish music)
of Ireland
?formal description
📝 In Action
Me encanta la música irlandesa, especialmente las gaitas.
A2I love Irish music, especially the bagpipes.
La cerveza irlandesa es famosa en todo el mundo.
B1Irish beer is famous all over the world.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender and Nationality
To talk about a female person or thing, you drop the accent mark and add an 'a': 'irlandesa'. (Un hombre irlandés, una mujer irlandesa).
Plural Forms
To make it plural, add 'es'. The masculine plural is 'irlandeses' (no accent mark!), and the feminine plural is 'irlandesas'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Accent
Mistake: "Escribir 'irlandes' sin tilde."
Correction: The singular masculine form always requires the accent over the 'e': irlandés.
⭐ Usage Tips
Adjective Placement
Adjectives of nationality almost always come after the thing they describe: 'el perro irlandés', not 'el irlandés perro'.
When used as a noun, irlandés refers to a male person from Ireland, or an Irishman.
📝 In Action
Conocimos a un irlandés muy simpático en el pub.
A2We met a very nice Irishman at the pub.
Los irlandeses tienen fama de ser muy buenos contadores de historias.
B1Irish people (men/mixed group) have a reputation for being very good storytellers.
💡 Grammar Points
Referring to Groups
If you are talking about a group of people that includes men and women, use the masculine plural form: 'los irlandeses'.
⭐ Usage Tips
The Female Equivalent
Remember the female noun is 'la irlandesa' (an Irishwoman). Both the noun and the article change.
Irlandés can also refer to the Irish Gaelic language, often associated with ancient manuscripts and cultural heritage.
📝 In Action
En algunas partes de Irlanda se habla el irlandés, no solo el inglés.
B2In some parts of Ireland, Irish (Gaelic) is spoken, not just English.
El irlandés es una lengua celta con una gramática compleja.
C1Irish is a Celtic language with a complex grammar.
💡 Grammar Points
Using Articles with Languages
When talking about languages in Spanish, you almost always need the masculine article 'el' before the name: 'El irlandés es difícil' (Irish is difficult).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Omitting the Article
Mistake: "'Quiero aprender irlandés.'"
Correction: Say 'Quiero aprender el irlandés.' (I want to learn Irish). The article is necessary unless it follows verbs like 'hablar' (to speak) or 'estudiar' (to study).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: irlandés
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the feminine plural form of 'irlandés'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'irlandés' have an accent mark?
The accent mark indicates where the stress falls when you pronounce the word (on the last syllable, 'DESS'). This is standard for Spanish words ending in a consonant other than 'n' or 's' when the stress is on the last syllable.
Do I need the accent mark when I write 'irlandesa'?
No. When you add the 'a' to make it feminine, the stress pattern of the word shifts, and the accent mark is no longer needed: 'irlandés' but 'irlandesa'.