HeyRuaHow to say “different” in Irish
- Irish:
- difriúil
- English:
- different, various
- Word type:
- adjective
- More different:
- níos difriúla
- Most different:
- is difriúla
- Plural:
- difriúla
- Pronunciation:
- “DIF-roo-il” /ˈdʲɪfʲɾʲuːlʲ/
What does “difriúil” mean?
“Difriúil” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- different
- Not the same as another person or thing.Also: dissimilar, unlike, distinct.
1 other meaning: various
- 2various
- Of several different kinds, used before a plural noun idea.Also: assorted, diverse.
Other Irish adjectives for different: éagsúil (different)
“Difriúil” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is difriúil after dath (colour, masculine), after aidhm (aim, 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: aidhm dhifriúil. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: dath difriúil.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, difriúla. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: aidhmeanna difriúla.
More different, most different, very different
| more different | níos difriúla | in the past tense: ní ba dhifriúla |
|---|---|---|
| most different | is difriúla | in the past tense: ba dhifriúla |
| as different as | chomh difriúil le | no change after chomh |
| very different | an-difriúil | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too different | ródhifriúil | ró- lenites |
“Difriúil” 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.
Different in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for different?
The Irish for different is difriúil (pronounced “DIF-roo-il”). It comes after the noun: dath difriúil, a different colour; aidhm dhifriúil, a different aim.
How do you say more different and most different in Irish?
níos difriúla is more different and is difriúla is most different. In the past tense they become ní ba dhifriúla and ba dhifriúla.
Why does difriúil become dhifriúil?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So aidhm dhifriúil (a different aim) but dath difriúil (a different colour), because dath is masculine.
What is the plural of difriúil?
With a plural noun difriúil becomes difriúla: dathanna difriúla, aidhmeanna difriúla.
How do you say very different in Irish?
an-difriúil. Too different is ródhifriúil, and as different as is chomh difriúil le.
Does difriúil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Difriúil can mean different or various, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Which preposition follows difriúil?
Use 'le' for 'different from': Tá sé difriúil le Seán, 'He is different from Seán'.
What is the difference between difriúil and éagsúil?
Both mean 'different', but 'éagsúil' is often preferred in formal writing and also means 'various', while 'difriúil' is very common in speech.
