faoileán

Irish

Alternative forms

faoileann, faoile, faoileadán, faoileagán, faoileannán

Etymology

From Middle Irish faílenn +‎ -án (diminutive suffix)^[1] (ending has been reanalysed, based on a dialect or dialects where -ann and -án are homophones).

Pronunciation

(Aran) IPA^(key): /ˈfˠiːlɑːn̪ˠ/, /ˈfˠoilɑːn̪ˠ/^[2]
(Cois Fharraige) IPA^(key): /ˈfˠail̠ʲɑːn̪ˠ/^[3] (as if spelt faidhlleán)

Noun

faoileán m (genitive singular faoileáin, nominative plural faoileáin)

gull, seagull (seabird)
Synonym: (Ulster) faoileog

Declension

Declension of faoileán (first declension)

bare forms
case	singular	plural
nominative	faoileán	faoileáin
vocative	a fhaoileáin	a fhaoileána
genitive	faoileáin	faoileán
dative	faoileán	faoileáin

forms with the definite article
case	singular	plural
nominative	an faoileán	na faoileáin
genitive	an fhaoileáin	na bhfaoileán
dative	leis an bhfaoileán don fhaoileán	leis na faoileáin

Derived terms

faoileán an chaipín (“black-headed gull”)
faoileán bán (“common gull, seamew”)
faoileán ceanndubh (“black-headed gull”)
faoileán droma duibh (“black-backed gull”)
faoileán scadán (“herring gull”)
faoileánach (“frequented by seagulls”, adjective)
faoileanda (“seagull-like; sweeping, graceful”, adjective)

Mutation

Mutated forms of *faoileán*
radical	lenition	eclipsis
faoileán	fhaoileán	bhfaoileán

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Modern Irish.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

References

^ Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “faílenn, foílenn”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
^ Finck, F. N. (1899) Die araner mundart [The Aran Dialect] (in German), volume II, Marburg: Elwert’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, page 118
^ de Bhaldraithe, Tomás (1977) Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge: An Deilbhíocht [The Irish of Cois Fharraige: Accidence] (in Irish), 2nd edition, Institiúid Ard-Léinn Bhaile Átha Cliath [Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies], page 337