HeyRuaHow to say “diligent” in Irish
- Irish:
- dlúsúil
- English:
- diligent, brisk
- Word type:
- adjective
- More diligent:
- níos dlúsúla
- Most diligent:
- is dlúsúla
- Plural:
- dlúsúla
- Pronunciation:
- “DLOO-sool” /ˈd̪ˠl̪ˠuːsˠuːlʲ/
What does “dlúsúil” mean?
“Dlúsúil” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- diligent
- Working hard and steadily, with energy and care.Also: industrious, hard-working, assiduous, busy.
1 other meaning: brisk
- 2brisk
- Done quickly and energetically.Also: energetic, vigorous.
Other Irish adjectives for diligent: díograiseach (diligent), dícheallach (diligent)
“Dlúsúil” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is dlúsúil after oibrí (worker, 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 dhlúsúil. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: oibrí dlúsúil.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, dlúsúla. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: girseacha dlúsúla.
More diligent, most diligent, very diligent
Tá Máire níos dlúsúla ná a deartháir. Máire is more diligent than her brother.
| more diligent | níos dlúsúla | in the past tense: ní ba dhlúsúla |
|---|---|---|
| most diligent | is dlúsúla | in the past tense: ba dhlúsúla |
| as diligent as | chomh dlúsúil le | no change after chomh |
| very diligent | an-dlúsúil | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too diligent | ródhlúsúil | ró- lenites |
“Dlúsúil” 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.
Diligent in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for diligent?
The Irish for diligent is dlúsúil (pronounced “DLOO-sool”). It comes after the noun: oibrí dlúsúil, a diligent worker; girseach dhlúsúil, a diligent girl.
How do you say more diligent and most diligent in Irish?
níos dlúsúla is more diligent and is dlúsúla is most diligent. In the past tense they become ní ba dhlúsúla and ba dhlúsúla.
Why does dlúsúil become dhlúsúil?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So girseach dhlúsúil (a diligent girl) but oibrí dlúsúil (a diligent worker), because oibrí is masculine.
What is the plural of dlúsúil?
With a plural noun dlúsúil becomes dlúsúla: oibrithe dlúsúla, girseacha dlúsúla.
How do you say very diligent in Irish?
an-dlúsúil. Too diligent is ródhlúsúil, and as diligent as is chomh dlúsúil le.
Does dlúsúil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Dlúsúil can mean diligent or brisk, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is 'dlúsúil' different from 'gnóthach'?
'Dlúsúil' describes someone who works hard and steadily by nature, while 'gnóthach' means busy at the moment, as in 'Tá mé gnóthach inniu'.
What noun is 'dlúsúil' related to?
It comes from 'dlús', meaning diligence or speed, as in 'cuir dlús leis' (hurry it up).
