HeyRuaHow to say “cantankerous” in Irish
- Irish:
- cancrach
- English:
- cantankerous, cankerous
- Word type:
- adjective
- More cantankerous:
- níos cancraí
- Most cantankerous:
- is cancraí
- Plural:
- cancracha
- Pronunciation:
- “KANG-krokh” /ˈkaŋkɾˠəx/
What does “cancrach” mean?
“Cancrach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- cantankerous
- Bad-tempered and quick to complain or argue.Also: peevish, grumpy, crabby, cranky, irritable.
1 other meaning: cankerous
- 2cankerous
- Affected by canker or ulcerous sores.Also: cankered, ulcerous.
“Cancrach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is cancrach after seanfhear (old man, masculine), after cailleach (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: cailleach chancrach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: seanfhear cancrach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, cancracha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: seanfhir chancracha; after other plurals it does not: cailleacha cancracha.
More cantankerous, most cantankerous, very cantankerous
Tá sé níos cancraí ná riamh ar maidin. He is crankier than ever in the morning.
| more cantankerous | níos cancraí | in the past tense: ní ba chancraí |
|---|---|---|
| most cantankerous | is cancraí | in the past tense: ba chancraí |
| as cantankerous as | chomh cancrach le | no change after chomh |
| very cantankerous | an-chancrach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too cantankerous | róchancrach | ró- lenites |
“Cancrach” 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.
Cantankerous in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for cantankerous?
The Irish for cantankerous is cancrach (pronounced “KANG-krokh”). It comes after the noun: seanfhear cancrach, a cantankerous old man; cailleach chancrach, a cantankerous old woman.
How do you say more cantankerous and most cantankerous in Irish?
níos cancraí is more cantankerous and is cancraí is most cantankerous. In the past tense they become ní ba chancraí and ba chancraí.
Why does cancrach become chancrach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So cailleach chancrach (a cantankerous old woman) but seanfhear cancrach (a cantankerous old man), because seanfhear is masculine.
What is the plural of cancrach?
With a plural noun cancrach becomes cancracha: seanfhir chancracha, cailleacha cancracha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very cantankerous in Irish?
an-chancrach. Too cantankerous is róchancrach, and as cantankerous as is chomh cancrach le.
Does cancrach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cancrach can mean cantankerous or cankerous, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is 'cancrach' different from 'crosta'?
'Cancrach' suggests a habitually grumpy, cantankerous nature, while 'crosta' often means cross or naughty, as with a bold child: 'páiste crosta'.
