HeyRuaHow to say “chilly” in Irish
- Irish:
- meathfhuar
- English:
- chilly, lukewarm
- Word type:
- adjective
- Chillier:
- níos meathfhuaire
- Chilliest:
- is meathfhuaire
- Plural:
- meathfhuara
- Pronunciation:
- “MAH-oo-ar” /ˈmʲahuəɾ/
What does “meathfhuar” mean?
“Meathfhuar” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- chilly
- Somewhat cold, not quite cold but unpleasantly cool.Also: coldish, cool, nippy.
“Meathfhuar” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is meathfhuar after lá (day, masculine), after maidin (morning, 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: maidin mheathfhuar. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: lá meathfhuar.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, meathfhuara. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: maidineacha meathfhuara.
Chillier, chilliest, very chilly
Tá an seomra seo níos meathfhuaire ná an chistin. This room is chillier than the kitchen.
| chillier | níos meathfhuaire | in the past tense: ní ba mheathfhuaire |
|---|---|---|
| chilliest | is meathfhuaire | in the past tense: ba mheathfhuaire |
| as chilly as | chomh meathfhuar le | no change after chomh |
| very chilly | an-mheathfhuar | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too chilly | rómheathfhuar | ró- lenites |
“Meathfhuar” 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.
Chilly in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for chilly?
The Irish for chilly is meathfhuar (pronounced “MAH-oo-ar”). It comes after the noun: lá meathfhuar, a chilly day; maidin mheathfhuar, a chilly morning.
How do you say chillier and chilliest in Irish?
níos meathfhuaire is chillier and is meathfhuaire is chilliest. In the past tense they become ní ba mheathfhuaire and ba mheathfhuaire.
Why does meathfhuar become mheathfhuar?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So maidin mheathfhuar (a chilly morning) but lá meathfhuar (a chilly day), because lá is masculine.
What is the plural of meathfhuar?
With a plural noun meathfhuar becomes meathfhuara: laethanta meathfhuara, maidineacha meathfhuara.
How do you say very chilly in Irish?
an-mheathfhuar. Too chilly is rómheathfhuar, and as chilly as is chomh meathfhuar le.
Does meathfhuar have more than one meaning?
Yes. Meathfhuar can mean chilly or lukewarm, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is meathfhuar different from fuar?
Meathfhuar means only somewhat cold or chilly, while fuar means plainly cold. The prefix meath- weakens the meaning.
