HeyRuaHow to say “affirmative” in Irish
- Irish:
- deimhniúil
- English:
- affirmative, positive
- Word type:
- adjective
- More affirmative:
- níos deimhniúla
- Most affirmative:
- is deimhniúla
- Plural:
- deimhniúla
- Pronunciation:
- “DEV-noo-il” /ˈdʲevʲnʲuːlʲ/
What does “deimhniúil” mean?
“Deimhniúil” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- affirmative
- Saying yes or stating that something is so, as opposed to denying it.Also: positive, assertive.
1 other meaning: positive
- 2positive
- Certain and definite, leaving no doubt.Also: definite, certain.
Other Irish adjectives for affirmative: deimhneach (positive)
“Deimhniúil” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is deimhniúil after freagra (answer, masculine), after tuairim (opinion, 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: tuairim dheimhniúil. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: freagra deimhniúil.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, deimhniúla. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: tuairimí deimhniúla.
More affirmative, most affirmative, very affirmative
Bhí an dara freagra níos deimhniúla ná an chéad cheann. The second answer was more positive than the first.
| more affirmative | níos deimhniúla | in the past tense: ní ba dheimhniúla |
|---|---|---|
| most affirmative | is deimhniúla | in the past tense: ba dheimhniúla |
| as affirmative as | chomh deimhniúil le | no change after chomh |
| very affirmative | an-deimhniúil | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too affirmative | ródheimhniúil | ró- lenites |
“Deimhniúil” 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.
Affirmative in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for affirmative?
The Irish for affirmative is deimhniúil (pronounced “DEV-noo-il”). It comes after the noun: freagra deimhniúil, an affirmative answer; tuairim dheimhniúil, an affirmative opinion.
How do you say more affirmative and most affirmative in Irish?
níos deimhniúla is more affirmative and is deimhniúla is most affirmative. In the past tense they become ní ba dheimhniúla and ba dheimhniúla.
Why does deimhniúil become dheimhniúil?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So tuairim dheimhniúil (an affirmative opinion) but freagra deimhniúil (an affirmative answer), because freagra is masculine.
What is the plural of deimhniúil?
With a plural noun deimhniúil becomes deimhniúla: freagraí deimhniúla, tuairimí deimhniúla.
How do you say very affirmative in Irish?
an-deimhniúil. Too affirmative is ródheimhniúil, and as affirmative as is chomh deimhniúil le.
Does deimhniúil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Deimhniúil can mean affirmative or positive, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the opposite of 'deimhniúil'?
The opposite is 'diúltach', negative, as in 'freagra diúltach', a negative answer.
