HeyRuaHow to say “curly” in Irish
- Irish:
- catach
- English:
- curly, dog-eared
- Word type:
- adjective
- Curlier:
- níos cataí
- Curliest:
- is cataí
- Plural:
- catacha
- Pronunciation:
- “KAT-ukh” /ˈkat̪ˠəx/
What does “catach” mean?
“Catach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- curly
- Having curls or ringlets, especially of hair.Also: curly-haired, wavy, ringleted.
1 other meaning: dog-eared
- 2dog-eared
- Of a page or book, having the corners turned down or crumpled.Also: crumpled, curled.
“Catach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is catach after folt (hair, 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 chatach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: folt catach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, catacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: foilt chatacha; after other plurals it does not: mná catacha.
Curlier, curliest, very curly
Tá a cuid gruaige níos cataí ná mo chuidse. Her hair is curlier than mine.
| curlier | níos cataí | in the past tense: ní ba chataí |
|---|---|---|
| curliest | is cataí | in the past tense: ba chataí |
| as curly as | chomh catach le | no change after chomh |
| very curly | an-chatach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too curly | róchatach | ró- lenites |
“Catach” 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.
Curly in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for curly?
The Irish for curly is catach (pronounced “KAT-ukh”). It comes after the noun: folt catach, curly hair; bean chatach, a curly woman.
How do you say curlier and curliest in Irish?
níos cataí is curlier and is cataí is curliest. In the past tense they become ní ba chataí and ba chataí.
Why does catach become chatach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean chatach (a curly woman) but folt catach (curly hair), because folt is masculine.
What is the plural of catach?
With a plural noun catach becomes catacha: foilt chatacha, mná catacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very curly in Irish?
an-chatach. Too curly is róchatach, and as curly as is chomh catach le.
Does catach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Catach can mean curly or dog-eared, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between catach and casta?
Catach is the usual word for curly hair, as in gruaig chatach. Casta means twisted or complicated, as in ceist chasta, a complicated question.
