HeyRuaHow to say “close” in Irish
- Irish:
- dlúth
- English:
- close, dense, intense
- Word type:
- adjective
- Closer:
- níos dlúithe
- Closest:
- is dlúithe
- Plural:
- dlútha
- Pronunciation:
- “dlooh” /d̪ˠl̪ˠuːh/
What does “dlúth” mean?
“Dlúth” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- close
- Near together, with little or no space between, or closely connected.Also: near, intimate, closely connected.
2 other meanings: dense or intense
“Dlúth” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is dlúth after ceangal (tying, masculine), after aimsir (weather, 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: aimsir dhlúth. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: ceangal dlúth.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, dlútha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: ceangail dhlútha; after other plurals it does not: aimsirí dlútha.
Closer, closest, very close
| closer | níos dlúithe | in the past tense: ní ba dhlúithe |
|---|---|---|
| closest | is dlúithe | in the past tense: ba dhlúithe |
| as close as | chomh dlúth le | no change after chomh |
| very close | an-dlúth | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too close | ródhlúth | ró- lenites |
“Dlúth” 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.
Close in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for close?
The Irish for close is dlúth (pronounced “dlooh”). It comes after the noun: ceangal dlúth, a close tying; aimsir dhlúth, close weather.
How do you say closer and closest in Irish?
níos dlúithe is closer and is dlúithe is closest. In the past tense they become ní ba dhlúithe and ba dhlúithe.
Why does dlúth become dhlúth?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So aimsir dhlúth (close weather) but ceangal dlúth (a close tying), because ceangal is masculine.
What is the plural of dlúth?
With a plural noun dlúth becomes dlútha: ceangail dhlútha, aimsirí dlútha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very close in Irish?
an-dlúth. Too close is ródhlúth, and as close as is chomh dlúth le.
Does dlúth have more than one meaning?
Yes. Dlúth can mean close, dense or intense, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'a close friend' in Irish?
Use the compound 'dlúthchara', as in 'Is dlúthchairde sinn', we are close friends.
What does 'dlúth agus inneach' mean?
Literally warp and weft, it means the very essence or fabric of something, as in 'dlúth agus inneach an scéil'.
