HeyRuaHow to say “devilish” in Irish
- Irish:
- diabhalta
- English:
- devilish, mischievous
- Word type:
- adjective
- More devilish:
- níos diabhalta
- Most devilish:
- is diabhalta
- Pronunciation:
- “JOWL-ta” /dʲiəul̪ˠt̪ˠə/
What does “diabhalta” mean?
“Diabhalta” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- devilish
- Wicked or diabolical, like the devil.Also: diabolical, fiendish, wicked.
1 other meaning: mischievous
- 2mischievous
- Full of mischief or devilment, often in a playful way.Also: impish, roguish, naughty.
Other Irish adjectives for devilish: diabhlaí (devilish)
“Diabhalta” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is diabhalta after gasúr (boy, masculine), after girseach (girl, 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: girseach dhiabhalta. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: gasúr diabhalta.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, diabhalta. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: gasúir dhiabhalta; after other plurals it does not: girseacha diabhalta.
More devilish, most devilish, very devilish
Tá Seán níos diabhalta ná a dheartháir. Seán is more mischievous than his brother.
| more devilish | níos diabhalta | in the past tense: ní ba dhiabhalta |
|---|---|---|
| most devilish | is diabhalta | in the past tense: ba dhiabhalta |
| as devilish as | chomh diabhalta le | no change after chomh |
| very devilish | an-diabhalta | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too devilish | ródhiabhalta | ró- lenites |
“Diabhalta” 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.
Devilish in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for devilish?
The Irish for devilish is diabhalta (pronounced “JOWL-ta”). It comes after the noun: gasúr diabhalta, a devilish boy; girseach dhiabhalta, a devilish girl.
How do you say more devilish and most devilish in Irish?
níos diabhalta is more devilish and is diabhalta is most devilish. In the past tense they become ní ba dhiabhalta and ba dhiabhalta.
Why does diabhalta become dhiabhalta?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So girseach dhiabhalta (a devilish girl) but gasúr diabhalta (a devilish boy), because gasúr is masculine.
How do you say very devilish in Irish?
an-diabhalta. Too devilish is ródhiabhalta, and as devilish as is chomh diabhalta le.
Does diabhalta have more than one meaning?
Yes. Diabhalta can mean devilish or mischievous, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the noun related to 'diabhalta'?
The noun is 'diabhal', meaning devil, and 'diabhlaíocht' means devilment or mischief.
