HeyRuaHow to say “black” in Irish
- Irish:
- dubh
- English:
- black, black-haired, gloomy
- Word type:
- adjective
- Blacker:
- níos duibhe
- Blackest:
- is duibhe
- Plural:
- dubha
- Pronunciation:
- “duv” /d̪ˠʊvˠ/
What does “dubh” mean?
“Dubh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- black
- Having the darkest colour, like coal or night.Also: jet-black, pitch-black, dark.
2 other meanings: black-haired or gloomy
- 2black-haired
- Having black or very dark hair.Also: dark-haired, dark.
- 3gloomy
- Dark and dismal in mood or outlook.Also: dismal, dark, grim.
“Dubh” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is dubh after cat (cat, masculine), after bó (cow, 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: bó dhubh. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: cat dubh.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, dubha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: cait dhubha; after other plurals it does not: ba dubha.
Blacker, blackest, very black
Tá a gruaig níos duibhe ná mo ghruaig. Her hair is blacker than mine.
| blacker | níos duibhe | in the past tense: ní ba dhuibhe |
|---|---|---|
| blackest | is duibhe | in the past tense: ba dhuibhe |
| as black as | chomh dubh le | no change after chomh |
| very black | an-dubh | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too black | ródhubh | ró- lenites |
“Dubh” in a sentence: Irish examples
With a masculine noun, a feminine noun, a plural, a comparison and on its own.
Phrases with dubh: Tá mé dubh dóite (I'm bored)
Other adjectives in Irish
More everyday Irish adjectives to learn next.
Phrases with “dubh”
Black in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for black?
The Irish for black is dubh (pronounced “duv”). It comes after the noun: cat dubh, a black cat; bó dhubh, a black cow.
How do you say blacker and blackest in Irish?
níos duibhe is blacker and is duibhe is blackest. In the past tense they become ní ba dhuibhe and ba dhuibhe.
Why does dubh become dhubh?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bó dhubh (a black cow) but cat dubh (a black cat), because cat is masculine.
What is the plural of dubh?
With a plural noun dubh becomes dubha: cait dhubha, ba dubha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very black in Irish?
an-dubh. Too black is ródhubh, and as black as is chomh dubh le.
Does dubh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Dubh can mean black, black-haired or gloomy, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What does 'dubh le daoine' mean?
'Tá an áit dubh le daoine' means the place is packed with people, literally black with people.
Is 'dubh' or 'dorcha' the word for a dark room?
Use 'dorcha' for lack of light, as in 'seomra dorcha'; 'dubh' is the colour black, though 'dubh dorcha' means pitch dark.
