HeyRuaHow to say “bad” in Irish
- Irish:
- olc
- English:
- bad, evil, angry
- Word type:
- adjective
- Worse:
- níos measa
- Worst:
- is measa
- Plural:
- olca
- Pronunciation:
- “ulk” /ɔl̪ˠk/
What does “olc” mean?
“Olc” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- bad
- Of poor quality or unpleasant; not good.Also: poor, terrible, awful.
2 other meanings: evil or angry
- 2evil
- Morally wrong or wicked.Also: wicked, wrong.
- 3angry
- Annoyed or in a bad temper, usually used with 'bheith olc'.Also: cross, annoyed.
Other Irish adjectives for bad: dona (bad)
“Olc” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is olc after lá (day, masculine), after aimsir (weather, feminine) and after a plural.
séimhiú (the h) the ending
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, olca.
Worse, worst, very bad
Tá an aimsir níos measa inniu ná inné. The weather is worse today than yesterday.
| worse | níos measa | in the past tense: ní ba mheasa |
|---|---|---|
| worst | is measa | in the past tense: ba mheasa |
| as bad as | chomh holc le | chomh puts an h before a vowel |
| very bad | an-olc | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too bad | ró-olc | ró- lenites |
“Olc” 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.
Bad in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for bad?
The Irish for bad is olc (pronounced “ulk”). It comes after the noun: lá olc, a bad day; aimsir olc, bad weather.
How do you say worse and worst in Irish?
níos measa is worse and is measa is worst. In the past tense they become ní ba mheasa and ba mheasa.
What is the plural of olc?
With a plural noun olc becomes olca: laethanta olca, aimsirí olca.
How do you say very bad in Irish?
an-olc. Too bad is ró-olc, and as bad as is chomh holc le.
Does olc have more than one meaning?
Yes. Olc can mean bad, evil or angry, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'olc' and 'droch-'?
'Droch-' is a prefix placed before the noun, as in 'drochlá', while 'olc' follows the noun or is used as a predicate, as in 'Is olc an lá é'.
Why is the comparative of 'olc' 'measa'?
'Olc' is irregular: 'níos measa' means 'worse' and 'is measa' means 'worst', just as English 'bad' becomes 'worse'.
