HeyRuaHow to say “difficult” in Irish
- Irish:
- deacrach
- English:
- difficult, distressing
- Word type:
- adjective
- More difficult:
- níos deacraí
- Most difficult:
- is deacraí
- Plural:
- deacracha
- Pronunciation:
- “JAK-ruch” /ˈdʲakɾˠəx/
What does “deacrach” mean?
“Deacrach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- difficult
- Hard to do, understand or deal with.Also: hard, tough, tricky.
“Deacrach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is deacrach after scrúdú (examination, masculine), after tuairim (opinion, 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: tuairim dheacrach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: scrúdú deacrach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, deacracha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: tuairimí deacracha.
More difficult, most difficult, very difficult
Tá an Fhraincis níos deacraí ná an Spáinnis. French is more difficult than Spanish.
| more difficult | níos deacraí | in the past tense: ní ba dheacraí |
|---|---|---|
| most difficult | is deacraí | in the past tense: ba dheacraí |
| as difficult as | chomh deacrach le | no change after chomh |
| very difficult | an-deacrach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too difficult | ródheacrach | ró- lenites |
“Deacrach” 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.
Difficult in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for difficult?
The Irish for difficult is deacrach (pronounced “JAK-ruch”). It comes after the noun: scrúdú deacrach, a difficult examination; tuairim dheacrach, a difficult opinion.
How do you say more difficult and most difficult in Irish?
níos deacraí is more difficult and is deacraí is most difficult. In the past tense they become ní ba dheacraí and ba dheacraí.
Why does deacrach become dheacrach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So tuairim dheacrach (a difficult opinion) but scrúdú deacrach (a difficult examination), because scrúdú is masculine.
What is the plural of deacrach?
With a plural noun deacrach becomes deacracha: scrúduithe deacracha, tuairimí deacracha.
How do you say very difficult in Irish?
an-deacrach. Too difficult is ródheacrach, and as difficult as is chomh deacrach le.
Does deacrach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Deacrach can mean difficult or distressing, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'deacrach' and 'doiligh'?
Both mean difficult; 'deacrach' is standard everywhere, while 'doiligh' is especially common in Ulster Irish.
What is the opposite of 'deacrach'?
Use 'éasca' or 'furasta', for example 'Tá sé éasca' means 'It is easy'.
