HeyRuaHow to say “decent” in Irish
- Irish:
- gnaíúil
- English:
- decent, generous, comely
- Word type:
- adjective
- More decent:
- níos gnaíúla
- Most decent:
- is gnaíúla
- Plural:
- gnaíúla
- Pronunciation:
- “GREE-ool” /ˈɡɾˠiːuːlʲ/
What does “gnaíúil” mean?
“Gnaíúil” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- decent
- Describes a person who is fair, kind and honest in how they treat others.Also: kind, good-natured, honest.
2 other meanings: generous or comely
- 2generous
- Describes someone who gives freely and is open-handed.Also: open-handed, hospitable.
- 3comely
- Pleasing to look at, attractive.Also: attractive, pleasant-looking, handsome.
“Gnaíúil” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is gnaíúil 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 ghnaíúil. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear gnaíúil.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, gnaíúla. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir ghnaíúla; after other plurals it does not: mná gnaíúla.
More decent, most decent, very decent
Tá sí níos gnaíúla ná a deartháir. She is more generous than her brother.
| more decent | níos gnaíúla | in the past tense: ní ba ghnaíúla |
|---|---|---|
| most decent | is gnaíúla | in the past tense: ba ghnaíúla |
| as decent as | chomh gnaíúil le | no change after chomh |
| very decent | an-ghnaíúil | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too decent | róghnaíúil | ró- lenites |
“Gnaíúil” 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.
Decent in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for decent?
The Irish for decent is gnaíúil (pronounced “GREE-ool”). It comes after the noun: fear gnaíúil, a decent man; bean ghnaíúil, a decent woman.
How do you say more decent and most decent in Irish?
níos gnaíúla is more decent and is gnaíúla is most decent. In the past tense they become ní ba ghnaíúla and ba ghnaíúla.
Why does gnaíúil become ghnaíúil?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean ghnaíúil (a decent woman) but fear gnaíúil (a decent man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of gnaíúil?
With a plural noun gnaíúil becomes gnaíúla: fir ghnaíúla, mná gnaíúla. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very decent in Irish?
an-ghnaíúil. Too decent is róghnaíúil, and as decent as is chomh gnaíúil le.
Does gnaíúil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Gnaíúil can mean decent, generous or comely, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is 'gnaíúil' different from 'fial'?
'Fial' focuses on generosity in giving, while 'gnaíúil' is broader, meaning decent and good-natured as well as generous.
