HeyRuaHow to say “accidental” in Irish
- Irish:
- timpisteach
- English:
- accidental, accident-prone
- Word type:
- adjective
- More accidental:
- níos timpistí
- Most accidental:
- is timpistí
- Plural:
- timpisteacha
- Pronunciation:
- “TIM-pish-tyakh” /tʲiːmʲpʲiʃtʲəx/
What does “timpisteach” mean?
“Timpisteach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- accidental
- Happening by accident or chance, not planned or intended.Also: chance, unintended, fortuitous.
1 other meaning: accident-prone
- 2accident-prone
- Tending to have accidents or mishaps.Also: unlucky, clumsy.
“Timpisteach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is timpisteach after bás (death, masculine), after oíche (night, feminine) and after a plural.
séimhiú (the h) the ending
After a feminine noun the adjective gets a séimhiú, an h after its first letter: oíche thimpisteach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: bás timpisteach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, timpisteacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: oícheanta timpisteacha.
More accidental, most accidental, very accidental
Bhí an dara tine níos timpistí ná an chéad cheann. The second fire was more accidental than the first.
| more accidental | níos timpistí | in the past tense: ní ba thimpistí |
|---|---|---|
| most accidental | is timpistí | in the past tense: ba thimpistí |
| as accidental as | chomh timpisteach le | no change after chomh |
| very accidental | an-timpisteach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too accidental | róthimpisteach | ró- lenites |
“Timpisteach” in a sentence: Irish examples
With a masculine noun, a feminine noun, a plural, a comparison and on its own.
Other adjectives in Irish
More everyday Irish adjectives to learn next.
Accidental in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for accidental?
The Irish for accidental is timpisteach (pronounced “TIM-pish-tyakh”). It comes after the noun: bás timpisteach, an accidental death; oíche thimpisteach, an accidental night.
How do you say more accidental and most accidental in Irish?
níos timpistí is more accidental and is timpistí is most accidental. In the past tense they become ní ba thimpistí and ba thimpistí.
Why does timpisteach become thimpisteach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So oíche thimpisteach (an accidental night) but bás timpisteach (an accidental death), because bás is masculine.
What is the plural of timpisteach?
With a plural noun timpisteach becomes timpisteacha: básanna timpisteacha, oícheanta timpisteacha.
How do you say very accidental in Irish?
an-timpisteach. Too accidental is róthimpisteach, and as accidental as is chomh timpisteach le.
Does timpisteach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Timpisteach can mean accidental or accident-prone, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'timpisteach' and 'tionóisceach'?
Both mean accidental; 'tionóisceach' is the more formal, official term, while 'timpisteach' comes from the everyday noun 'timpiste', an accident.
