hi, ive wanted to learn irish for so long, but firstly i need to know, does irish have a femine and masculine like french, eg La (f) le (M)? plz help me!

Bonnie xx

Yes, Bonnie a Chara, it does have both.

The most distinguishing matter is how the definite article, 'an', behaves in genitive :

(A) An doras = the door;

(B) ag oscailt an dorais = (at) opening (of) the door;
i.e. opening the door.


(A) An fhuinneog = the window;

(B) ag oscailt na fuinneoige = (at) opening (of) the window;
i.e. opening the window.

Keeping it simple, this distinction of 'an' / 'na' in the genitive case makes us describe 'doras' as masculine, as it takes 'an' and we describe 'fuinneog' as feminine, as it takes 'na'.

'an' in genitive : it is masculine.
'na' in genitive : it is feminine.

NB. It is very useful to learn the noun in context of article and case, as above, in the case of both 'doras' and 'fuinneog' at positions marked A and B.

Good luck with your Irish - Go n-éirí an Ghaeilg leat!