ceithre

• IPA^(key): /ˈcɛɾʲə/

ceithre

1. four

• May be used with nouns in both the singular and plural; the singular is more common in general, but the plural must be used with units of measurement and the like. Triggers lenition of nouns in the singular and h-prothesis of nouns in the plural.

• ceithre chat ― four cats
• ceithre troithe ― four feet
• ceithre huaire ― four times

• When used with the definite article, the definite article is always in the plural. When used with nouns modified by adjectives, the adjective is also in the plural and is always lenited after nouns in the singular but only lenites after nouns in the plural when they end in slender consonants:

• ciethre chapall bhána ― four white horses
• na ceithre eaglais mhóra ― the four big churches

But:

• ceithre capaill bhána ― four white horses
• na ceithre heaglaisí móra ― the four big churches

• When referring to human beings, the personal form ceathrar is used.

• ceathair (used in counting)
• ceathrar (used with personal nouns)