Let’s learn how to say nativity scene in Irish and also the names for figurines commonly found in a nativity scene.
The Irish for nativity scene, or a crib as it’s also known as, is mainséar /mawn-shayr/. Another term for it is beithilín /beh-hel-een/ which comes from Beithil /Beh-hel/, the Irish for Bethlehem.
A figurine is called deilbhín /djel-veen/ and figurines are deilbhíní /djel-vee-nee/.
We have one word in Irish to refered to the Baby Jesus: Íosagán /Ee-sa-gawn/.
Mary is called Muire /Mwer-ah/. This is a form of Mary only reserved for the Virgin Mary.
Joseph is Seosamh /Show-suf/ or Naomh Seosamh /Nayv Show-suf/, St Joseph. Another version is Iósaf /Yo-suf/.
The shepherds are called na haoirí /na her-ee/. A shepherd is aoire /er-eh/.
The three wise men are called na trí saoithe /nah tree see-ha/. The word for one wise man in Irish is saoi /see/. They’re also known as na trí ríthe /nah tree ree-ha/, which literally means the three kings.
The Irish word for angel is aingeal /an-gel/.
There are often animals, ainmhithe /an-ve-ha/, in a crib such as a sheep – caora /kwee-ra/, a donkey – asal /oss-ul/ and an ox – damh /dov/.
See all our posts on Christmas in the Irish language.
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