Dochtúir

Dochtúir is the Irish word for a doctor, specifically a medical practitioner or physician. It is the standard term used in Ireland, including in Irish-language contexts in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. In everyday usage, dochtúir denotes a person who diagnoses and treats illnesses and who may work in hospitals, clinics, or general practice.

The word derives from Latin doctor and has been adopted into Irish to denote a professional in the medical field. In Irish-language sources, dochtúir is the common label for clinicians across specialties, from general practitioners to hospital consultants.

Training and regulation in practice

To become a doctor, a medical degree from a university is required (for example, MB BCh BAO in Ireland). After graduation, graduates typically undertake a period of supervised practice (internship or pre-registration) before full registration to practice independently. In the Republic of Ireland, medical professionals are regulated by the Medical Council of Ireland, which sets standards for registration, fitness to practise, and continuing professional development. In the United Kingdom, doctors are licensed and regulated by the General Medical Council. Despite different regulatory bodies, the pathway generally leads to a publicly accountable credential to practise medicine and, with experience, to advanced roles such as specialist or consultant positions.

Usage and forms

In Irish-language writing and media, dochtúir is widely used to refer to physicians in a clinical sense. The plural form is dochtúirí. The term appears in hospital signage, patient information, and medical literature conducted in Irish, reflecting the integration of the language into healthcare contexts.