HeyRuaHow to say “deep” in Irish
- Irish:
- domhain
- English:
- deep, profound
- Word type:
- adjective
- Deeper:
- níos doimhne
- Deepest:
- is doimhne
- Plural:
- doimhne
- Pronunciation:
- “dowin” /d̪ˠaunʲ/
What does “domhain” mean?
“Domhain” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- deep
- Going a long way down from the top or surface, or far in from the front.Also: bottomless, low.
1 other meaning: profound
- 2profound
- Serious, intense or hard to understand, used of thoughts, feelings or sleep.Also: deep, intense, heavy.
“Domhain” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is domhain after poll (hole, masculine), after farraige (sea, 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: farraige dhomhain. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: poll domhain.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, doimhne. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: poill dhoimhne; after other plurals it does not: farraigí doimhne.
Deeper, deepest, very deep
Tá an abhainn seo níos doimhne ná an ceann eile. This river is deeper than the other one.
| deeper | níos doimhne | in the past tense: ní ba dhoimhne |
|---|---|---|
| deepest | is doimhne | in the past tense: ba dhoimhne |
| as deep as | chomh domhain le | no change after chomh |
| very deep | an-domhain | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too deep | ródhomhain | ró- lenites |
“Domhain” 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.
Deep in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for deep?
The Irish for deep is domhain (pronounced “dowin”). It comes after the noun: poll domhain, a deep hole; farraige dhomhain, a deep sea.
How do you say deeper and deepest in Irish?
níos doimhne is deeper and is doimhne is deepest. In the past tense they become ní ba dhoimhne and ba dhoimhne.
Why does domhain become dhomhain?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So farraige dhomhain (a deep sea) but poll domhain (a deep hole), because poll is masculine.
What is the plural of domhain?
With a plural noun domhain becomes doimhne: poill dhoimhne, farraigí doimhne. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very deep in Irish?
an-domhain. Too deep is ródhomhain, and as deep as is chomh domhain le.
Does domhain have more than one meaning?
Yes. Domhain can mean deep or profound, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the opposite of domhain?
For water, the opposite is usually 'tanaí' (shallow), and 'éadomhain' also means shallow.
Is domhain the same as the noun 'domhan'?
No. 'Domhan' means world; 'domhain' as an adjective means deep, though 'domhain' is also the genitive of 'domhan', as in 'ar fud an domhain'.
