HeyRuaHow to say “careful” in Irish
- Irish:
- cáiréiseach
- English:
- careful, fastidious
- Word type:
- adjective
- More careful:
- níos cáiréisí
- Most careful:
- is cáiréisí
- Plural:
- cáiréiseacha
- Pronunciation:
- “KAW-raysh-ukh” /ˈkɑːɾʲeːʃəx/
What does “cáiréiseach” mean?
“Cáiréiseach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- careful
- Taking great care and paying close attention to detail.Also: meticulous, painstaking, cautious.
1 other meaning: fastidious
- 2fastidious
- Hard to please and particular about small things.Also: fussy, finicky, particular.
Other Irish adjectives for careful: cúramach (careful), aireach (careful), faichilleach (careful)
“Cáiréiseach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is cáiréiseach after fear (man, masculine), after bean (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: bean cháiréiseach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear cáiréiseach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, cáiréiseacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir cháiréiseacha; after other plurals it does not: mná cáiréiseacha.
More careful, most careful, very careful
Tá sí níos cáiréisí ná a deartháir. She is more careful than her brother.
| more careful | níos cáiréisí | in the past tense: ní ba cháiréisí |
|---|---|---|
| most careful | is cáiréisí | in the past tense: ba cháiréisí |
| as careful as | chomh cáiréiseach le | no change after chomh |
| very careful | an-cháiréiseach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too careful | rócháiréiseach | ró- lenites |
“Cáiréiseach” 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.
Careful in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for careful?
The Irish for careful is cáiréiseach (pronounced “KAW-raysh-ukh”). It comes after the noun: fear cáiréiseach, a careful man; bean cháiréiseach, a careful woman.
How do you say more careful and most careful in Irish?
níos cáiréisí is more careful and is cáiréisí is most careful. In the past tense they become ní ba cháiréisí and ba cháiréisí.
Why does cáiréiseach become cháiréiseach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean cháiréiseach (a careful woman) but fear cáiréiseach (a careful man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of cáiréiseach?
With a plural noun cáiréiseach becomes cáiréiseacha: fir cháiréiseacha, mná cáiréiseacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very careful in Irish?
an-cháiréiseach. Too careful is rócháiréiseach, and as careful as is chomh cáiréiseach le.
Does cáiréiseach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cáiréiseach can mean careful or fastidious, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between cáiréiseach and cúramach?
Both mean careful, but cáiréiseach often suggests being meticulous or fastidious, while cúramach is the everyday word for careful or responsible.
