HeyRuaHow to say “blind” in Irish
- Irish:
- caoch
- English:
- blind, empty, closed
- Word type:
- adjective
- Blinder:
- níos caoiche
- Blindest:
- is caoiche
- Plural:
- caocha
- Pronunciation:
- “keekh” /kiːx/
What does “caoch” mean?
“Caoch” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- blind
- Not able to see, or almost unable to see; purblind.Also: purblind, sightless, half-blind.
2 other meanings: empty or closed
- 2empty
- Of a nut, seed or husk: empty, with no kernel inside.Also: hollow, barren.
- 3closed
- Of a place or passage: closed up, with no way through, like a blind alley.Also: dead-end, blocked, blind.
Other Irish adjectives for blind: dall (blind)
“Caoch” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is caoch after capall (horse, masculine), after seanbhean (old woman, 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: seanbhean chaoch. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: capall caoch.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, caocha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: capaill chaocha; after other plurals it does not: seanmhná caocha.
Blinder, blindest, very blind
Tá an madra níos caoiche anois ná riamh. The dog is blinder now than ever.
| blinder | níos caoiche | in the past tense: ní ba chaoiche |
|---|---|---|
| blindest | is caoiche | in the past tense: ba chaoiche |
| as blind as | chomh caoch le | no change after chomh |
| very blind | an-chaoch | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too blind | róchaoch | ró- lenites |
“Caoch” 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.
Blind in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for blind?
The Irish for blind is caoch (pronounced “keekh”). It comes after the noun: capall caoch, a blind horse; seanbhean chaoch, a blind old woman.
How do you say blinder and blindest in Irish?
níos caoiche is blinder and is caoiche is blindest. In the past tense they become ní ba chaoiche and ba chaoiche.
Why does caoch become chaoch?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So seanbhean chaoch (a blind old woman) but capall caoch (a blind horse), because capall is masculine.
What is the plural of caoch?
With a plural noun caoch becomes caocha: capaill chaocha, seanmhná caocha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very blind in Irish?
an-chaoch. Too blind is róchaoch, and as blind as is chomh caoch le.
Does caoch have more than one meaning?
Yes. Caoch can mean blind, empty or closed, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'caoch' and 'dall'?
Both mean blind, but 'dall' is the usual standard word, while 'caoch' often suggests purblind or is used of animals and things, as in 'cnó caoch', an empty nut.
