HeyRuaHow to say “comparative” in Irish
- Irish:
- comparáideach
- English:
- comparative, comparative (grammar)
- Word type:
- adjective
- More comparative:
- níos comparáidí
- Most comparative:
- is comparáidí
- Plural:
- comparáideacha
- Pronunciation:
- “KUM-par-aw-jukh” /ˈkʊmˠpˠəɾˠaːdʲəx/
What does “comparáideach” mean?
“Comparáideach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- comparative
- Involving or based on comparing two or more things.Also: comparing, relative.
1 other meaning: comparative (grammar)
- 2comparative (grammar)
- Describing the form of an adjective or adverb that expresses a higher degree, such as 'bigger'.Also: comparative, comparative degree.
“Comparáideach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is comparáideach after fear (man, masculine), after eolaíocht (science, 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: eolaíocht chomparáideach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear comparáideach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, comparáideacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir chomparáideacha; after other plurals it does not: eolaíochtaí comparáideacha.
More comparative, most comparative, very comparative
Tá an cur chuige seo níos comparáidí ná an ceann eile. This approach is more comparative than the other one.
| more comparative | níos comparáidí | in the past tense: ní ba chomparáidí |
|---|---|---|
| most comparative | is comparáidí | in the past tense: ba chomparáidí |
| as comparative as | chomh comparáideach le | no change after chomh |
| very comparative | an-chomparáideach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too comparative | róchomparáideach | ró- lenites |
“Comparáideach” 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.
Comparative in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for comparative?
The Irish for comparative is comparáideach (pronounced “KUM-par-aw-jukh”). It comes after the noun: fear comparáideach, a comparative man; eolaíocht chomparáideach, a comparative science.
How do you say more comparative and most comparative in Irish?
níos comparáidí is more comparative and is comparáidí is most comparative. In the past tense they become ní ba chomparáidí and ba chomparáidí.
Why does comparáideach become chomparáideach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So eolaíocht chomparáideach (a comparative science) but fear comparáideach (a comparative man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of comparáideach?
With a plural noun comparáideach becomes comparáideacha: fir chomparáideacha, eolaíochtaí comparáideacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very comparative in Irish?
an-chomparáideach. Too comparative is róchomparáideach, and as comparative as is chomh comparáideach le.
Does comparáideach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Comparáideach can mean comparative or comparative (grammar), depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the Irish grammatical term for the comparative degree?
It is called 'an bhreischéim', though 'céim chomparáideach' is also used; the superlative is 'an tsárchéim'.
