HeyRuaHow to say “devilish” in Irish
- Irish:
- diabhlaí
- English:
- devilish, mischievous, damnable
- Word type:
- adjective
- More devilish:
- níos diabhlaí
- Most devilish:
- is diabhlaí
- Pronunciation:
- “JOW-lee” /ˈdʲəulˠiː/
What does “diabhlaí” mean?
“Diabhlaí” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- devilish
- Wicked or evil, like the devil.Also: diabolical, fiendish, satanic.
2 other meanings: mischievous or damnable
- 2mischievous
- Full of mischief or playful naughtiness.Also: naughty, impish, roguish.
- 3damnable
- Very bad or annoying, used to show strong dislike.Also: cursed, accursed, hateful.
Other Irish adjectives for devilish: diabhalta (devilish)
“Diabhlaí” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is diabhlaí after buachaill (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 dhiabhlaí. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: buachaill diabhlaí.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, diabhlaí. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: girseacha diabhlaí.
More devilish, most devilish, very devilish
Tá sé níos diabhlaí ná a dheartháir. He is more mischievous than his brother.
| more devilish | níos diabhlaí | in the past tense: ní ba dhiabhlaí |
|---|---|---|
| most devilish | is diabhlaí | in the past tense: ba dhiabhlaí |
| as devilish as | chomh diabhlaí le | no change after chomh |
| very devilish | an-diabhlaí | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too devilish | ródhiabhlaí | ró- lenites |
“Diabhlaí” 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 diabhlaí (pronounced “JOW-lee”). It comes after the noun: buachaill diabhlaí, a devilish boy; girseach dhiabhlaí, a devilish girl.
How do you say more devilish and most devilish in Irish?
níos diabhlaí is more devilish and is diabhlaí is most devilish. In the past tense they become ní ba dhiabhlaí and ba dhiabhlaí.
Why does diabhlaí become dhiabhlaí?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So girseach dhiabhlaí (a devilish girl) but buachaill diabhlaí (a devilish boy), because buachaill is masculine.
How do you say very devilish in Irish?
an-diabhlaí. Too devilish is ródhiabhlaí, and as devilish as is chomh diabhlaí le.
Does diabhlaí have more than one meaning?
Yes. Diabhlaí can mean devilish, mischievous or damnable, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Is 'diabhlaí' always about evil?
No. When used of children, 'diabhlaí' usually means mischievous or naughty rather than truly evil, much like 'dána'.
