HeyRuaHow to say “cowardly” in Irish
- Irish:
- cladhartha
- English:
- cowardly, mean
- Word type:
- adjective
- More cowardly:
- níos cladhartha
- Most cowardly:
- is cladhartha
- Pronunciation:
- “KLY-ar-ha” /ˈklˠəiɾˠəhə/
What does “cladhartha” mean?
“Cladhartha” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- cowardly
- Lacking courage; afraid to face danger or difficulty.Also: craven, faint-hearted, spineless, dastardly.
1 other meaning: mean
- 2mean
- Acting in a low, underhand or contemptible way.Also: base, underhand, dastardly.
“Cladhartha” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is cladhartha after fear (man, masculine), after bean (woman, 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: bean chladhartha. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear cladhartha.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, cladhartha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir chladhartha; after other plurals it does not: mná cladhartha.
More cowardly, most cowardly, very cowardly
Bhí sé níos cladhartha ná a dheartháir. He was more cowardly than his brother.
| more cowardly | níos cladhartha | in the past tense: ní ba chladhartha |
|---|---|---|
| most cowardly | is cladhartha | in the past tense: ba chladhartha |
| as cowardly as | chomh cladhartha le | no change after chomh |
| very cowardly | an-chladhartha | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too cowardly | róchladhartha | ró- lenites |
“Cladhartha” 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.
Cowardly in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for cowardly?
The Irish for cowardly is cladhartha (pronounced “KLY-ar-ha”). It comes after the noun: fear cladhartha, a cowardly man; bean chladhartha, a cowardly woman.
How do you say more cowardly and most cowardly in Irish?
níos cladhartha is more cowardly and is cladhartha is most cowardly. In the past tense they become ní ba chladhartha and ba chladhartha.
Why does cladhartha become chladhartha?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean chladhartha (a cowardly woman) but fear cladhartha (a cowardly man), because fear is masculine.
How do you say very cowardly in Irish?
an-chladhartha. Too cowardly is róchladhartha, and as cowardly as is chomh cladhartha le.
Does cladhartha have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cladhartha can mean cowardly or mean, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the noun related to 'cladhartha'?
The noun is 'cladhaire', meaning a coward, and 'cladhaireacht' means cowardice.
How does 'cladhartha' differ from 'meata'?
Both mean cowardly, but 'meata' also suggests feeble or faint-hearted, while 'cladhartha' stresses contemptible cowardice.
