HeyRuaHow to say “dear” in Irish
- Irish:
- dil
- English:
- dear, faithful
- Word type:
- adjective
- More dear:
- níos dile
- Most dear:
- is dile
- Plural:
- dile
- Pronunciation:
- “dill” /dʲilʲ/
What does “dil” mean?
“Dil” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- dear
- Loved very much and precious to someone.Also: beloved, fond, darling, precious.
1 other meaning: faithful
- 2faithful
- Loyal and devoted to someone.Also: loyal, devoted.
Other Irish adjectives for dear: daor (expensive)
“Dil” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is dil after cara (friend, masculine), after máthair (mother, 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: máthair dhil. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: cara dil.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, dile. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: máithreacha dile.
More dear, most dear, very dear
Ní raibh aon duine níos dile di ná a mac. Nobody was dearer to her than her son.
| more dear | níos dile | in the past tense: ní ba dhile |
|---|---|---|
| most dear | is dile | in the past tense: ba dhile |
| as dear as | chomh dil le | no change after chomh |
| very dear | an-dil | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too dear | ródhil | ró- lenites |
“Dil” 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.
Dear in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for dear?
The Irish for dear is dil (pronounced “dill”). It comes after the noun: cara dil, a dear friend; máthair dhil, a dear mother.
How do you say more dear and most dear in Irish?
níos dile is more dear and is dile is most dear. In the past tense they become ní ba dhile and ba dhile.
Why does dil become dhil?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So máthair dhil (a dear mother) but cara dil (a dear friend), because cara is masculine.
What is the plural of dil?
With a plural noun dil becomes dile: cairde dile, máithreacha dile.
How do you say very dear in Irish?
an-dil. Too dear is ródhil, and as dear as is chomh dil le.
Does dil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Dil can mean dear or faithful, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between dil and dílis?
Dil means dear or beloved, as in 'mo mháthair dhil', while dílis means faithful or loyal, as in 'cara dílis'. Both appear in warm forms of address.
