Lenition
Lenition changes an initial consonant and is usually written with h: bád becomes bhád. Its grammatical trigger must be learned with each construction.
How It Works
Lenition changes an initial consonant and is usually written with h: bád becomes bhád. Its grammatical trigger must be learned with each construction.
Lenition is a grammatical change at the beginning of a word. In modern spelling an h follows eligible consonants: b becomes bh, c becomes ch, and m becomes mh. The changed sound varies with the consonant and dialect; h is not pronounced as an extra separate sound after every letter.
Examples (3)
- Seo mo bhád.
This is my boat.
- Tá mo chóta anseo.
My coat is here.
- Cá bhfuil do mhála?
Where is your bag?
How It Connects
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- an bheanLenition After the Feminine ArticleLevel 1
- bean mhaithFeminine Adjective LenitionLevel 1
- moMy and LenitionLevel 1
- an- + AdjectiveVery with an-Level 2
- aon ... amháinOne ItemLevel 2
- ní + Present VerbNegating Ordinary Present VerbsLevel 2
- Regular Past-Tense LenitionLevel 2
- a SheáinVocative NamesLevel 3
And 1 more in the full list.
Practice Lenition in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Irish lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
