HeyRuaHow to say “devil” in Irish
- Irish:
- diabhal
- English:
- devil, devil (mischievous person), damn (intensifier)
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “JEE-ul” /dʲiəl̪ˠ/
- Plural:
- diabhail (devils)
- Genitive singular:
- diabhail, an diabhail (e.g. adharca an diabhail, the devil's horns)
- Genitive plural:
- diabhal, na ndiabhal (e.g. rí na ndiabhal, the king of the devils)
What does “diabhal” mean?
“Diabhal” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- devil
- An evil spirit, especially the Devil, the chief spirit of evil in Christian belief.Also: demon, Satan, evil spirit.
2 other meanings: devil (mischievous person) or damn (intensifier)
- 2devil (mischievous person)
- A wicked, troublesome or mischievous person, often said half-affectionately.Also: devil, rascal, rogue, imp.
- 3damn (intensifier)
- Used in exclamations and curses to express annoyance or emphasis, like 'damn' or 'bloody' in English.Also: damn, hell, bloody.
Other Irish words for devil: deamhan (demon)
“Diabhal” with the article
The plural of devil in Irish is diabhail. Here is diabhal after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Diabhal” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using diabhal, the Irish word for devil.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Devil in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for devil?
The Irish for devil is diabhal (pronounced “JEE-ul”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is diabhail. Depending on context it can also mean devil (mischievous person) or damn (intensifier).
How do you pronounce diabhal in Irish?
Diabhal is said like “JEE-ul” (IPA /dʲiəl̪ˠ/).
What is the plural of devil in Irish?
The plural of diabhal is diabhail; with the article, na diabhail means “the devils”. The genitive plural is diabhal, as in rí na ndiabhal (the king of the devils).
Does diabhal have more than one meaning?
Yes. Diabhal can mean devil, devil (mischievous person) or damn (intensifier), depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does diabhal change to dhiabhal or ndiabhal?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) diabhal becomes mo dhiabhal (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár ndiabhal (eclipsis).
What is the difference between 'diabhal' and 'deamhan'?
'Diabhal' is the usual word for the devil and is common in curses, while 'deamhan' means a demon or evil spirit. 'Deamhan' is also used as a mild negative: 'deamhan focal', not a word.
How is 'diabhal' used in everyday swearing?
It is a common mild curse: 'Is cuma sa diabhal liom' means 'I don't give a damn', and 'Céard sa diabhal?' means 'What the devil?'.
