HeyRuaHow to say “blessed” in Irish
- Irish:
- beannaithe
- English:
- blessed, holy
- Word type:
- adjective
- More blessed:
- níos beannaithe
- Most blessed:
- is beannaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “BAN-ih-heh” /ˈbʲan̪ˠəhə/
What does “beannaithe” mean?
“Beannaithe” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- blessed
- Having received a blessing, or made holy by God or the Church.Also: holy, sanctified, consecrated.
1 other meaning: holy
- 2holy
- Sacred or connected with God and worthy of reverence.Also: sacred, hallowed.
“Beannaithe” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is beannaithe after uisce (water, masculine), after áit (place, 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: áit bheannaithe. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: uisce beannaithe.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, beannaithe. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: áiteanna beannaithe.
More blessed, most blessed, very blessed
Níl áit ar bith níos beannaithe ná an t-oileán seo. There is no place holier than this island.
| more blessed | níos beannaithe | in the past tense: ní ba bheannaithe |
|---|---|---|
| most blessed | is beannaithe | in the past tense: ba bheannaithe |
| as blessed as | chomh beannaithe le | no change after chomh |
| very blessed | an-bheannaithe | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too blessed | róbheannaithe | ró- lenites |
“Beannaithe” 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.
Blessed in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for blessed?
The Irish for blessed is beannaithe (pronounced “BAN-ih-heh”). It comes after the noun: uisce beannaithe, blessed water; áit bheannaithe, a blessed place.
How do you say more blessed and most blessed in Irish?
níos beannaithe is more blessed and is beannaithe is most blessed. In the past tense they become ní ba bheannaithe and ba bheannaithe.
Why does beannaithe become bheannaithe?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So áit bheannaithe (a blessed place) but uisce beannaithe (blessed water), because uisce is masculine.
How do you say very blessed in Irish?
an-bheannaithe. Too blessed is róbheannaithe, and as blessed as is chomh beannaithe le.
Does beannaithe have more than one meaning?
Yes. Beannaithe can mean blessed or holy, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'beannaithe' and 'naofa'?
'Beannaithe' means blessed, as in 'uisce beannaithe' (holy water), while 'naofa' means holy or saintly, as in 'an tSeachtain Naofa' and 'Pádraig Naofa'.
