HeyRuaHow to say “downy” in Irish
- Irish:
- clúmhach
- English:
- downy, hairy
- Word type:
- adjective
- Downier:
- níos clúmhaí
- Downiest:
- is clúmhaí
- Plural:
- clúmhacha
- Pronunciation:
- “KLOO-wukh” /ˈkl̪ˠuːwəx/
What does “clúmhach” mean?
“Clúmhach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- downy
- Covered with soft fine feathers or hair.Also: feathery, fluffy, fuzzy.
1 other meaning: hairy
- 2hairy
- Having a thick coat of hair or fur.Also: furry, fleecy, shaggy.
“Clúmhach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is clúmhach after éan (bird, masculine), after cearc (hen, 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: cearc chlúmhach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: éan clúmhach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, clúmhacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: éin chlúmhacha; after other plurals it does not: cearca clúmhacha.
Downier, downiest, very downy
Tá an coinín seo níos clúmhaí ná an ceann eile. This rabbit is fluffier than the other one.
| downier | níos clúmhaí | in the past tense: ní ba chlúmhaí |
|---|---|---|
| downiest | is clúmhaí | in the past tense: ba chlúmhaí |
| as downy as | chomh clúmhach le | no change after chomh |
| very downy | an-chlúmhach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too downy | róchlúmhach | ró- lenites |
“Clúmhach” 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.
Downy in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for downy?
The Irish for downy is clúmhach (pronounced “KLOO-wukh”). It comes after the noun: éan clúmhach, a downy bird; cearc chlúmhach, a downy hen.
How do you say downier and downiest in Irish?
níos clúmhaí is downier and is clúmhaí is downiest. In the past tense they become ní ba chlúmhaí and ba chlúmhaí.
Why does clúmhach become chlúmhach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So cearc chlúmhach (a downy hen) but éan clúmhach (a downy bird), because éan is masculine.
What is the plural of clúmhach?
With a plural noun clúmhach becomes clúmhacha: éin chlúmhacha, cearca clúmhacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very downy in Irish?
an-chlúmhach. Too downy is róchlúmhach, and as downy as is chomh clúmhach le.
Does clúmhach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Clúmhach can mean downy or hairy, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What noun is 'clúmhach' related to?
It comes from 'clúmh', meaning down, plumage or fur, so 'clúmhach' means covered in 'clúmh'.
