HeyRuaHow to say “deaf” in Irish
- Irish:
- bodhar
- English:
- deaf, dull, numb
- Word type:
- adjective
- Deafer:
- níos bodhaire
- Deafest:
- is bodhaire
- Plural:
- bodhra
- Pronunciation:
- “bow-er” /bˠəuɾˠ/
What does “bodhar” mean?
“Bodhar” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- deaf
- Unable to hear, or hard of hearing.Also: hard of hearing, unable to hear.
2 other meanings: dull or numb
- 2dull
- Describes a sound that is muffled or low and not clear.Also: muffled, hollow.
- 3numb
- Describes a limb or part of the body that has lost feeling.Also: without feeling.
The same spelling has its own page as:
“Bodhar” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is bodhar 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 bhodhar. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear bodhar.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, bodhra. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir bhodhra; after other plurals it does not: mná bodhra.
Deafer, deafest, very deaf
Tá mo sheanathair níos bodhaire ná riamh. My grandfather is deafer than ever.
| deafer | níos bodhaire | in the past tense: ní ba bhodhaire |
|---|---|---|
| deafest | is bodhaire | in the past tense: ba bhodhaire |
| as deaf as | chomh bodhar le | no change after chomh |
| very deaf | an-bhodhar | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too deaf | róbhodhar | ró- lenites |
“Bodhar” 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.
Deaf in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for deaf?
The Irish for deaf is bodhar (pronounced “bow-er”). It comes after the noun: fear bodhar, a deaf man; bean bhodhar, a deaf woman.
How do you say deafer and deafest in Irish?
níos bodhaire is deafer and is bodhaire is deafest. In the past tense they become ní ba bhodhaire and ba bhodhaire.
Why does bodhar become bhodhar?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean bhodhar (a deaf woman) but fear bodhar (a deaf man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of bodhar?
With a plural noun bodhar becomes bodhra: fir bhodhra, mná bodhra. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very deaf in Irish?
an-bhodhar. Too deaf is róbhodhar, and as deaf as is chomh bodhar le.
Does bodhar have more than one meaning?
Yes. Bodhar can mean deaf, dull or numb, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say someone is deaf in one ear?
Use 'i' with the ear: 'Tá sé bodhar ina chluas dheas' means he is deaf in his right ear.
Is 'bodhar' related to 'bodhrán'?
It is popularly linked with 'bodhrán', the frame drum with a dull, deep sound, though the exact origin is debated.
