HeyRuaHow to say “dour” in Irish
- Irish:
- dúr
- English:
- dour, obstinate, dense, hard
- Word type:
- adjective
- Dourer:
- níos dúire
- Dourest:
- is dúire
- Plural:
- dúra
- Pronunciation:
- “doo-r” /d̪ˠuːɾˠ/
What does “dúr” mean?
“Dúr” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- dour
- Stern, sullen and unfriendly in manner or expression.Also: sullen, grim, surly, stern.
3 other meanings: obstinate or dense or hard
- 2obstinate
- Stubborn and unwilling to change your mind.Also: stubborn, hard, unyielding.
- 3dense
- Slow to understand, dull-witted.Also: stupid, slow-witted, thick, dull.
- 4hard
- Hard, rigid or tough, not easily broken or softened.Also: rigid, tough, solid.
“Dúr” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is dúr after fear (man, masculine), after aghaidh (face, 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: aghaidh dhúr. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear dúr.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, dúra. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir dhúra; after other plurals it does not: aghaidheanna dúra.
Dourer, dourest, very dour
Tá sé níos dúire ná a dheartháir. He is more stubborn than his brother.
| dourer | níos dúire | in the past tense: ní ba dhúire |
|---|---|---|
| dourest | is dúire | in the past tense: ba dhúire |
| as dour as | chomh dúr le | no change after chomh |
| very dour | an-dúr | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too dour | ródhúr | ró- lenites |
“Dúr” 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.
Dour in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for dour?
The Irish for dour is dúr (pronounced “doo-r”). It comes after the noun: fear dúr, a dour man; aghaidh dhúr, a dour face.
How do you say dourer and dourest in Irish?
níos dúire is dourer and is dúire is dourest. In the past tense they become ní ba dhúire and ba dhúire.
Why does dúr become dhúr?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So aghaidh dhúr (a dour face) but fear dúr (a dour man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of dúr?
With a plural noun dúr becomes dúra: fir dhúra, aghaidheanna dúra. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very dour in Irish?
an-dúr. Too dour is ródhúr, and as dour as is chomh dúr le.
Does dúr have more than one meaning?
Yes. Dúr can mean dour, obstinate, dense or hard, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Is 'dúr' always about mood?
No. 'Dúr' can mean sullen, but also stubborn or slow-witted, as in 'Tá sé dúr sa léann', he is slow at learning.
