HeyRuaHow to say “cowardly” in Irish
- Irish:
- meatach
- English:
- cowardly, decaying
- Word type:
- adjective
- More cowardly:
- níos meataí
- Most cowardly:
- is meataí
- Plural:
- meatacha
- Pronunciation:
- “MAT-ukh” /mʲatˠəx/
What does “meatach” mean?
“Meatach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- cowardly
- Lacking courage; afraid to face danger or difficulty.Also: faint-hearted, craven, timid.
1 other meaning: decaying
- 2decaying
- Withering, failing or declining in strength or condition.Also: declining, failing, withering, degenerate.
Other Irish adjectives for cowardly: cladhartha (cowardly)
“Meatach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is meatach 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 mheatach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear meatach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, meatacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir mheatacha; after other plurals it does not: mná meatacha.
More cowardly, most cowardly, very cowardly
Bhí sé níos meataí ná a dheartháir. He was more cowardly than his brother.
| more cowardly | níos meataí | in the past tense: ní ba mheataí |
|---|---|---|
| most cowardly | is meataí | in the past tense: ba mheataí |
| as cowardly as | chomh meatach le | no change after chomh |
| very cowardly | an-mheatach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too cowardly | rómheatach | ró- lenites |
“Meatach” 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 meatach (pronounced “MAT-ukh”). It comes after the noun: fear meatach, a cowardly man; bean mheatach, a cowardly woman.
How do you say more cowardly and most cowardly in Irish?
níos meataí is more cowardly and is meataí is most cowardly. In the past tense they become ní ba mheataí and ba mheataí.
Why does meatach become mheatach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean mheatach (a cowardly woman) but fear meatach (a cowardly man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of meatach?
With a plural noun meatach becomes meatacha: fir mheatacha, mná meatacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very cowardly in Irish?
an-mheatach. Too cowardly is rómheatach, and as cowardly as is chomh meatach le.
Does meatach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Meatach can mean cowardly or decaying, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between meatach and cladhartha?
Both mean cowardly; cladhartha is the more common everyday word, while meatach also carries a sense of failing or decaying, as in 'crann meatach'.
What noun is related to meatach?
The noun is 'meatacht', meaning cowardice or decay, and the verb 'meath' means to decay or decline.
