HeyRuaHow to say “contemptuous” in Irish
- Irish:
- tarcaisneach
- English:
- contemptuous, insulting
- Word type:
- adjective
- More contemptuous:
- níos tarcaisní
- Most contemptuous:
- is tarcaisní
- Plural:
- tarcaisneacha
- Pronunciation:
- “TAR-kash-nyokh” /ˈt̪ˠaɾˠkəʃnʲəx/
What does “tarcaisneach” mean?
“Tarcaisneach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- contemptuous
- Showing contempt or scorn for someone or something.Also: scornful, disdainful, derisive, sneering.
1 other meaning: insulting
- 2insulting
- Meant to insult or humiliate someone.Also: abusive, offensive, humiliating.
“Tarcaisneach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is tarcaisneach after focal (word, 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 tharcaisneach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: focal tarcaisneach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, tarcaisneacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: focail tharcaisneacha; after other plurals it does not: girseacha tarcaisneacha.
More contemptuous, most contemptuous, very contemptuous
Bhí a dheirfiúr níos tarcaisní ná é. His sister was more scornful than him.
| more contemptuous | níos tarcaisní | in the past tense: ní ba tharcaisní |
|---|---|---|
| most contemptuous | is tarcaisní | in the past tense: ba tharcaisní |
| as contemptuous as | chomh tarcaisneach le | no change after chomh |
| very contemptuous | an-tarcaisneach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too contemptuous | rótharcaisneach | ró- lenites |
“Tarcaisneach” 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.
Contemptuous in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for contemptuous?
The Irish for contemptuous is tarcaisneach (pronounced “TAR-kash-nyokh”). It comes after the noun: focal tarcaisneach, a contemptuous word; girseach tharcaisneach, a contemptuous girl.
How do you say more contemptuous and most contemptuous in Irish?
níos tarcaisní is more contemptuous and is tarcaisní is most contemptuous. In the past tense they become ní ba tharcaisní and ba tharcaisní.
Why does tarcaisneach become tharcaisneach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So girseach tharcaisneach (a contemptuous girl) but focal tarcaisneach (a contemptuous word), because focal is masculine.
What is the plural of tarcaisneach?
With a plural noun tarcaisneach becomes tarcaisneacha: focail tharcaisneacha, girseacha tarcaisneacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very contemptuous in Irish?
an-tarcaisneach. Too contemptuous is rótharcaisneach, and as contemptuous as is chomh tarcaisneach le.
Does tarcaisneach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Tarcaisneach can mean contemptuous or insulting, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What noun is 'tarcaisneach' related to?
It comes from 'tarcaisne', meaning contempt or insult, as in 'tarcaisne a thabhairt do dhuine', to insult someone.
How does 'tarcaisneach' differ from 'maslach'?
'Maslach' stresses that something is insulting or abusive, while 'tarcaisneach' stresses scorn and contempt, though they often overlap.
