About this phrase
An chéad is an Ordinal Number that means the first.
The an component is the definite article. Céad is lenited following it.
The word following an chéad is also lenited if it begins with b, c, f, g, m or p.
Do not confuse:
- An chéad: the first.
- An céad: the hundred; also the century.
The ordinal numbers in Irish from one to ten
- an chéad [rud]: the first [thing].
- an dara [rud]: the second [thing].
- an tríú [rud]: the third [thing].
- an ceathrú [rud]: the fourth [thing].
- an cúigiú [rud]: the fifth [thing].
- an séú [rud]: the sixth [thing].
- an seachtú [rud]: the seventh [thing].
- an t‑ochtú [rud]: the eighth [thing].
- an naoú [rud]: the ninth [thing].
- an deichiú [rud]: the tenth [thing].
The ordinal numbers in Irish from eleven to twenty
- an t‑aonú [rud] déag: the eleventh [thing].
- an dara [rud] déag: the twelfth [thing].
- an tríú [rud] déag: the thirteenth [thing].
- an ceathrú [rud] déag: the fourteenth [thing].
- an cúigiú [rud] déag: the fifteenth [thing].
- an séú [rud] déag: the sixteenth [thing].
- an seachtú [rud] déag: the seventeenth [thing].
- an t‑ochtú [rud] déag: the eighteenth [thing].
- an naoú [rud] déag: the ninteenth [thing].
- an fichiú [rud]: the twentieth [thing].