HeyRuaHow to say “dark” in Irish
- Irish:
- dorcha
- English:
- dark, dark-coloured, mysterious, gloomy
- Word type:
- adjective
- Darker:
- níos dorcha
- Darkest:
- is dorcha
- Pronunciation:
- “DUR-a-ha” /ˈd̪ˠɔɾˠəxə/
What does “dorcha” mean?
“Dorcha” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- dark
- Having little or no light.Also: dim, unlit, gloomy.
3 other meanings: dark-coloured or mysterious or gloomy
- 2dark-coloured
- Deep or dark in colour, as of hair, skin or clothes.Also: dark, swarthy, deep.
- 3mysterious
- Hard to understand, obscure or secret.Also: obscure, secret, hidden.
- 4gloomy
- Sad, sullen or grim in mood or appearance.Also: sullen, grim, morose.
“Dorcha” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is dorcha after seomra (room, masculine), after oíche (night, 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: oíche dhorcha. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: seomra dorcha.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, dorcha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: oícheanta dorcha.
Darker, darkest, very dark
Tá an chistin níos dorcha ná an seomra suí. The kitchen is darker than the sitting room.
| darker | níos dorcha | in the past tense: ní ba dhorcha |
|---|---|---|
| darkest | is dorcha | in the past tense: ba dhorcha |
| as dark as | chomh dorcha le | no change after chomh |
| very dark | an-dorcha | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too dark | ródhorcha | ró- lenites |
“Dorcha” 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.
Dark in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for dark?
The Irish for dark is dorcha (pronounced “DUR-a-ha”). It comes after the noun: seomra dorcha, a dark room; oíche dhorcha, a dark night.
How do you say darker and darkest in Irish?
níos dorcha is darker and is dorcha is darkest. In the past tense they become ní ba dhorcha and ba dhorcha.
Why does dorcha become dhorcha?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So oíche dhorcha (a dark night) but seomra dorcha (a dark room), because seomra is masculine.
How do you say very dark in Irish?
an-dorcha. Too dark is ródhorcha, and as dark as is chomh dorcha le.
Does dorcha have more than one meaning?
Yes. Dorcha can mean dark, dark-coloured, mysterious or gloomy, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between dorcha and dubh?
Dorcha means dark, lacking light, as in oíche dhorcha, while dubh is the colour black, as in cóta dubh.
How do I say it is getting dark?
Say Tá sé ag éirí dorcha, or Tá an oíche ag titim.
