HeyRuaHow to say “cruel” in Irish
- Irish:
- cruálach
- English:
- cruel, stingy
- Word type:
- adjective
- Crueler:
- níos cruálaí
- Cruelest:
- is cruálaí
- Plural:
- cruálacha
- Pronunciation:
- “KROO-aw-lukh” /ˈkɾˠuəˌlˠaːx/
What does “cruálach” mean?
“Cruálach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- cruel
- Willing to cause pain or suffering to people or animals without pity.Also: harsh, merciless, heartless, brutal.
1 other meaning: stingy
- 2stingy
- Mean with money or unwilling to give or share.Also: mean, miserly, niggardly.
Other Irish adjectives for cruel: danartha (cruel)
“Cruálach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is cruálach 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 chruálach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear cruálach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, cruálacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir chruálacha; after other plurals it does not: mná cruálacha.
Crueler, cruelest, very cruel
| crueler | níos cruálaí | in the past tense: ní ba chruálaí |
|---|---|---|
| cruelest | is cruálaí | in the past tense: ba chruálaí |
| as cruel as | chomh cruálach le | no change after chomh |
| very cruel | an-chruálach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too cruel | róchruálach | ró- lenites |
“Cruálach” 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.
Cruel in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for cruel?
The Irish for cruel is cruálach (pronounced “KROO-aw-lukh”). It comes after the noun: fear cruálach, a cruel man; bean chruálach, a cruel woman.
How do you say crueler and cruelest in Irish?
níos cruálaí is crueler and is cruálaí is cruelest. In the past tense they become ní ba chruálaí and ba chruálaí.
Why does cruálach become chruálach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean chruálach (a cruel woman) but fear cruálach (a cruel man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of cruálach?
With a plural noun cruálach becomes cruálacha: fir chruálacha, mná cruálacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very cruel in Irish?
an-chruálach. Too cruel is róchruálach, and as cruel as is chomh cruálach le.
Does cruálach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cruálach can mean cruel or stingy, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Which preposition goes with cruálach when saying cruel to someone?
Use le: 'Bhí sé cruálach leis an madra' means 'He was cruel to the dog'.
What is the noun for cruelty?
The noun is 'cruáil' or 'cruálacht', as in 'cruálacht d'ainmhithe', cruelty to animals.
