HeyRuaHow to say “deceptive” in Irish
- Irish:
- mealltach
- English:
- deceptive, beguiling, disappointing
- Word type:
- adjective
- More deceptive:
- níos mealltaí
- Most deceptive:
- is mealltaí
- Plural:
- mealltacha
- Pronunciation:
- “MAL-tukh” /ˈmʲal̪ˠt̪ˠəx/
What does “mealltach” mean?
“Mealltach” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- deceptive
- Giving a false impression, so that it misleads or deceives you.Also: deceitful, misleading, treacherous.
2 other meanings: beguiling or disappointing
- 2beguiling
- Attractive in a way that charms or tempts you, sometimes misleadingly.Also: enticing, alluring, tempting, charming.
- 3disappointing
- Failing to live up to what was expected or promised.Also: unreliable, letting down.
“Mealltach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is mealltach after fear (man, masculine), after aimsir (weather, 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: aimsir mhealltach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear mealltach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, mealltacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir mhealltacha; after other plurals it does not: aimsirí mealltacha.
More deceptive, most deceptive, very deceptive
Tá an tairiscint seo níos mealltaí ná an ceann eile. This offer is more enticing than the other one.
| more deceptive | níos mealltaí | in the past tense: ní ba mhealltaí |
|---|---|---|
| most deceptive | is mealltaí | in the past tense: ba mhealltaí |
| as deceptive as | chomh mealltach le | no change after chomh |
| very deceptive | an-mhealltach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too deceptive | rómhealltach | ró- lenites |
“Mealltach” 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.
Deceptive in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for deceptive?
The Irish for deceptive is mealltach (pronounced “MAL-tukh”). It comes after the noun: fear mealltach, a deceptive man; aimsir mhealltach, deceptive weather.
How do you say more deceptive and most deceptive in Irish?
níos mealltaí is more deceptive and is mealltaí is most deceptive. In the past tense they become ní ba mhealltaí and ba mhealltaí.
Why does mealltach become mhealltach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So aimsir mhealltach (deceptive weather) but fear mealltach (a deceptive man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of mealltach?
With a plural noun mealltach becomes mealltacha: fir mhealltacha, aimsirí mealltacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very deceptive in Irish?
an-mhealltach. Too deceptive is rómhealltach, and as deceptive as is chomh mealltach le.
Does mealltach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Mealltach can mean deceptive, beguiling or disappointing, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'mealltach' and 'meallacach'?
'Mealltach' leans towards deceptive or disappointing, while 'meallacach' usually means charming or alluring in a positive sense.
Which verb is 'mealltach' related to?
It comes from the verb 'meall', which means to deceive, entice or disappoint, as in 'mheall sé mé' (he deceived me).
