HeyRuaHow to say “cool” in Irish
- Irish:
- fionnuar
- English:
- cool, refreshing
- Word type:
- adjective
- Cooler:
- níos fionnuaire
- Coolest:
- is fionnuaire
- Plural:
- fionnuara
- Pronunciation:
- “FIN-oo-er” /ˈfʲɪn̪ˠˌuəɾˠ/
What does “fionnuar” mean?
“Fionnuar” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- cool
- Pleasantly cold, not warm, especially of air, water or weather.Also: fresh, chilly, cold.
1 other meaning: refreshing
- 2refreshing
- Cool in a way that refreshes you, like a cold drink or a breeze on a hot day.Also: cooling, fresh.
“Fionnuar” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is fionnuar after fear (man, masculine), after gaoth (wind, 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: gaoth fhionnuar. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear fionnuar.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, fionnuara. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir fhionnuara; after other plurals it does not: gaotha fionnuara.
Cooler, coolest, very cool
Tá an seomra seo níos fionnuaire ná an chistin. This room is cooler than the kitchen.
| cooler | níos fionnuaire | in the past tense: ní b'fhionnuaire |
|---|---|---|
| coolest | is fionnuaire | in the past tense: ab fhionnuaire |
| as cool as | chomh fionnuar le | no change after chomh |
| very cool | an-fhionnuar | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too cool | rófhionnuar | ró- lenites |
“Fionnuar” 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.
Cool in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for cool?
The Irish for cool is fionnuar (pronounced “FIN-oo-er”). It comes after the noun: fear fionnuar, a cool man; gaoth fhionnuar, a cool wind.
How do you say cooler and coolest in Irish?
níos fionnuaire is cooler and is fionnuaire is coolest. In the past tense they become ní b'fhionnuaire and ab fhionnuaire.
Why does fionnuar become fhionnuar?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So gaoth fhionnuar (a cool wind) but fear fionnuar (a cool man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of fionnuar?
With a plural noun fionnuar becomes fionnuara: fir fhionnuara, gaotha fionnuara. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very cool in Irish?
an-fhionnuar. Too cool is rófhionnuar, and as cool as is chomh fionnuar le.
Does fionnuar have more than one meaning?
Yes. Fionnuar can mean cool or refreshing, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between fionnuar and fuar?
Fuar simply means cold, often unpleasantly so, while fionnuar means pleasantly cool or refreshing, as in uisce fionnuar on a hot day.
