HeyRuaHow to say “bloody” in Irish
- Irish:
- fuilteach
- English:
- bloody, bloodthirsty
- Word type:
- adjective
- Bloodier:
- níos fuiltí
- Bloodiest:
- is fuiltí
- Plural:
- fuilteacha
- Pronunciation:
- “FWIL-chukh” /ˈfˠɪl̠ʲtʲəx/
What does “fuilteach” mean?
“Fuilteach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- bloody
- Covered with blood or involving a lot of bloodshed.Also: gory, bloodstained, blood-soaked.
1 other meaning: bloodthirsty
- 2bloodthirsty
- Eager to kill or cause bloodshed.Also: murderous, savage.
“Fuilteach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is fuilteach after cath (battle, masculine), after lámh (hand, 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: lámh fhuilteach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: cath fuilteach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, fuilteacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: lámha fuilteacha.
Bloodier, bloodiest, very bloody
Bhí an dara cogadh níos fuiltí ná an chéad cheann. The second war was bloodier than the first.
| bloodier | níos fuiltí | in the past tense: ní b'fhuiltí |
|---|---|---|
| bloodiest | is fuiltí | in the past tense: ab fhuiltí |
| as bloody as | chomh fuilteach le | no change after chomh |
| very bloody | an-fhuilteach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too bloody | rófhuilteach | ró- lenites |
“Fuilteach” 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.
Bloody in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for bloody?
The Irish for bloody is fuilteach (pronounced “FWIL-chukh”). It comes after the noun: cath fuilteach, a bloody battle; lámh fhuilteach, a bloody hand.
How do you say bloodier and bloodiest in Irish?
níos fuiltí is bloodier and is fuiltí is bloodiest. In the past tense they become ní b'fhuiltí and ab fhuiltí.
Why does fuilteach become fhuilteach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So lámh fhuilteach (a bloody hand) but cath fuilteach (a bloody battle), because cath is masculine.
What is the plural of fuilteach?
With a plural noun fuilteach becomes fuilteacha: cathanna fuilteacha, lámha fuilteacha.
How do you say very bloody in Irish?
an-fhuilteach. Too bloody is rófhuilteach, and as bloody as is chomh fuilteach le.
Does fuilteach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Fuilteach can mean bloody or bloodthirsty, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Is 'fuilteach' a swear word like English 'bloody'?
No, 'fuilteach' means literally covered in blood or involving bloodshed, as in 'cogadh fuilteach'. It is not used as a mild curse.
