Alcoholic in Irish (Alcólach): Meaning & Pronunciation

Q: What is the Irish for alcoholic?

The Irish for alcoholic is alcólach (pronounced “AL-koh-lukh”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is alcólaigh.

Q: What is the plural of alcoholic in Irish?

The plural of alcólach is alcólaigh; with the article, na halcólaigh means “the alcoholics”. The genitive plural is alcólach, as in teaghlaigh na n-alcólach (the families of alcoholics).

How to say “alcoholic” in Irish

Irish:: alcólach
English:: alcoholic
Word type:: noun
Gender:: masculine, first declension
Pronunciation:: “AL-koh-lukh” /ˈalˠkoːlˠəx/

Various forms

Plural:: alcólaigh (alcoholics)
Genitive singular:: alcólaigh, an alcólaigh (e.g. teaghlach an alcólaigh, the alcoholic's family)
Genitive plural:: alcólach, na n-alcólach (e.g. teaghlaigh na n-alcólach, the families of alcoholics)

What does “alcólach” mean?

alcoholic: A person who is addicted to alcohol and cannot control their drinking.Also: alcohol addict, drunkard, problem drinker.

“Alcólach” with the article

The plural of alcoholic in Irish is alcólaigh. Here is alcólach after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.

an t-alcólach

the alcoholic

Masculine nouns take t before a vowel after an

na halcólaigh

the alcoholics

Plural: na adds h before a vowel

“Alcólach” in a sentence: Irish examples

Common Irish sentences using alcólach, the Irish word for alcoholic.

Is alcólach é a athair le blianta fada.

His father has been an alcoholic for many years.

D'admhaigh an t-alcólach go raibh cabhair uaidh.

The alcoholic admitted that he needed help.

Bhí saol an alcólaigh an-chrua ar a pháistí.

The alcoholic's life was very hard on his children.

Freastalaíonn go leor alcólach ar chruinnithe gach seachtain.

Many alcoholics attend meetings every week.

Tá cóir leighis ar fáil d'alcólaigh san ospidéal.

Treatment is available for alcoholics in the hospital.

Ní raibh a fhios agam gur alcólach í.

I didn't know she was an alcoholic.

Thug an dochtúir cúnamh do na halcólaigh sa chlinic.

The doctor helped the alcoholics in the clinic.

Other nouns in Irish

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Alcoholic in Irish: frequently asked questions

What is the Irish for alcoholic?

The Irish for alcoholic is alcólach (pronounced “AL-koh-lukh”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is alcólaigh.

How do you pronounce alcólach in Irish?

Alcólach is said like “AL-koh-lukh” (IPA /ˈalˠkoːlˠəx/).

What is the plural of alcoholic in Irish?

The plural of alcólach is alcólaigh; with the article, na halcólaigh means “the alcoholics”. The genitive plural is alcólach, as in teaghlaigh na n-alcólach (the families of alcoholics).

Why does alcólach sometimes have a t or h in front of it?

Irish nouns beginning with a vowel take a prefix after certain words: an t-alcólach (the alcoholic), a halcólach (her alcoholic), a n-alcólach (their alcoholic), na halcólaigh (the alcoholics).

Is 'alcólach' also an adjective?

Yes, 'alcólach' can also be an adjective meaning 'alcoholic', as in 'deoch alcólach' (an alcoholic drink); as a noun it means a person addicted to alcohol.

What is the difference between 'alcólach' and 'meisceoir'?

'Alcólach' refers to someone with an addiction to alcohol, while 'meisceoir' is a drunkard, someone who often gets drunk, and is more judgemental.

Alcoholic in Irish (Alcólach): Meaning, Pronunciation, Usage