HeyRuaHow to say “cheeky” in Irish
- Irish:
- deiliúsach
- English:
- cheeky
- Word type:
- adjective
- Cheekier:
- níos deiliúsaí
- Cheekiest:
- is deiliúsaí
- Plural:
- deiliúsacha
- Pronunciation:
- “DEL-yoo-sakh” /ˈdʲɛlʲuːsəx/
What does “deiliúsach” mean?
- cheeky
- Rude or bold in speech, especially in a forward, impudent way.Also: impudent, saucy, forward, pert.
“Deiliúsach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is deiliúsach after páiste (child, masculine), after girseach (girl, 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: girseach dheiliúsach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: páiste deiliúsach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, deiliúsacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: girseacha deiliúsacha.
Cheekier, cheekiest, very cheeky
Tá sí níos deiliúsaí ná a deartháir. She is cheekier than her brother.
| cheekier | níos deiliúsaí | in the past tense: ní ba dheiliúsaí |
|---|---|---|
| cheekiest | is deiliúsaí | in the past tense: ba dheiliúsaí |
| as cheeky as | chomh deiliúsach le | no change after chomh |
| very cheeky | an-deiliúsach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too cheeky | ródheiliúsach | ró- lenites |
“Deiliúsach” 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.
Cheeky in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for cheeky?
The Irish for cheeky is deiliúsach (pronounced “DEL-yoo-sakh”). It comes after the noun: páiste deiliúsach, a cheeky child; girseach dheiliúsach, a cheeky girl.
How do you say cheekier and cheekiest in Irish?
níos deiliúsaí is cheekier and is deiliúsaí is cheekiest. In the past tense they become ní ba dheiliúsaí and ba dheiliúsaí.
Why does deiliúsach become dheiliúsach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So girseach dheiliúsach (a cheeky girl) but páiste deiliúsach (a cheeky child), because páiste is masculine.
What is the plural of deiliúsach?
With a plural noun deiliúsach becomes deiliúsacha: páistí deiliúsacha, girseacha deiliúsacha.
How do you say very cheeky in Irish?
an-deiliúsach. Too cheeky is ródheiliúsach, and as cheeky as is chomh deiliúsach le.
What is the difference between 'deiliúsach' and 'sotalach'?
'Deiliúsach' suggests cheeky, saucy talk, often from a child, while 'sotalach' is more arrogant and haughty.
