HeyRuaHow to say “biennial” in Irish
- Irish:
- débhliantúil
- English:
- biennial, biennial (of plants)
- Word type:
- adjective
- More biennial:
- níos débhliantúla
- Most biennial:
- is débhliantúla
- Plural:
- débhliantúla
- Pronunciation:
- “DAY-vlee-un-tool” /ˈdʲeːvʲlʲiən̪ˠt̪ˠuːlʲ/
What does “débhliantúil” mean?
“Débhliantúil” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- biennial
- Happening once every two years, or lasting for two years.Also: two-yearly, every two years, two-year.
1 other meaning: biennial (of plants)
- 2biennial (of plants)
- Describes a plant that lives for two years, flowering in the second.Also: biennial, two-year plant.
“Débhliantúil” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is débhliantúil after cruinniú (meeting, masculine), after ceolchoirm (concert, 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: ceolchoirm dhébhliantúil. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: cruinniú débhliantúil.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, débhliantúla. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: ceolchoirmeacha débhliantúla.
More biennial, most biennial, very biennial
Níl aon fhéile níos débhliantúla ná í sin. No festival is more strictly biennial than that one.
| more biennial | níos débhliantúla | in the past tense: ní ba dhébhliantúla |
|---|---|---|
| most biennial | is débhliantúla | in the past tense: ba dhébhliantúla |
| as biennial as | chomh débhliantúil le | no change after chomh |
| very biennial | an-débhliantúil | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too biennial | ródhébhliantúil | ró- lenites |
“Débhliantúil” 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.
Biennial in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for biennial?
The Irish for biennial is débhliantúil (pronounced “DAY-vlee-un-tool”). It comes after the noun: cruinniú débhliantúil, a biennial meeting; ceolchoirm dhébhliantúil, a biennial concert.
How do you say more biennial and most biennial in Irish?
níos débhliantúla is more biennial and is débhliantúla is most biennial. In the past tense they become ní ba dhébhliantúla and ba dhébhliantúla.
Why does débhliantúil become dhébhliantúil?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So ceolchoirm dhébhliantúil (a biennial concert) but cruinniú débhliantúil (a biennial meeting), because cruinniú is masculine.
What is the plural of débhliantúil?
With a plural noun débhliantúil becomes débhliantúla: cruinnithe débhliantúla, ceolchoirmeacha débhliantúla.
How do you say very biennial in Irish?
an-débhliantúil. Too biennial is ródhébhliantúil, and as biennial as is chomh débhliantúil le.
Does débhliantúil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Débhliantúil can mean biennial or biennial (of plants), depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'débhliantúil' and 'bliantúil'?
'Bliantúil' means annual, once a year, while 'débhliantúil' means biennial, once every two years.
