HeyRuaHow to say “famous” in Irish
- Irish:
- cáiliúil
- English:
- famous, middling
- Word type:
- adjective
- More famous:
- níos cáiliúla
- Most famous:
- is cáiliúla
- Plural:
- cáiliúla
- Pronunciation:
- “KAW-loo-il” /ˈkɑːlʲuːlʲ/
What does “cáiliúil” mean?
“Cáiliúil” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- famous
- Known by many people because of something they did or are.Also: celebrated, renowned, well-known, noted.
1 other meaning: middling
- 2middling
- Of medium quality, neither very good nor very bad (dialectal).Also: fair, so-so, average.
Other Irish adjectives for famous: clúiteach (renowned), iomráiteach (famous)
“Cáiliúil” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is cáiliúil after amhránaí (singer, masculine), after áit (place, 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: áit cháiliúil. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: amhránaí cáiliúil.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, cáiliúla. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: áiteanna cáiliúla.
More famous, most famous, very famous
Tá an t-amhránaí seo níos cáiliúla ná a dheartháir. This singer is more famous than his brother.
| more famous | níos cáiliúla | in the past tense: ní ba cháiliúla |
|---|---|---|
| most famous | is cáiliúla | in the past tense: ba cháiliúla |
| as famous as | chomh cáiliúil le | no change after chomh |
| very famous | an-cháiliúil | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too famous | rócháiliúil | ró- lenites |
“Cáiliúil” 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.
Famous in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for famous?
The Irish for famous is cáiliúil (pronounced “KAW-loo-il”). It comes after the noun: amhránaí cáiliúil, a famous singer; áit cháiliúil, a famous place.
How do you say more famous and most famous in Irish?
níos cáiliúla is more famous and is cáiliúla is most famous. In the past tense they become ní ba cháiliúla and ba cháiliúla.
Why does cáiliúil become cháiliúil?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So áit cháiliúil (a famous place) but amhránaí cáiliúil (a famous singer), because amhránaí is masculine.
What is the plural of cáiliúil?
With a plural noun cáiliúil becomes cáiliúla: amhránaithe cáiliúla, áiteanna cáiliúla.
How do you say very famous in Irish?
an-cháiliúil. Too famous is rócháiliúil, and as famous as is chomh cáiliúil le.
Does cáiliúil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cáiliúil can mean famous or middling, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Which preposition means 'famous for' with cáiliúil?
Use 'as': Tá Gaillimh cáiliúil as a cuid ceoil, Galway is famous for its music. 'Cáiliúil de bharr' is also heard.
What is the difference between cáiliúil and clúiteach?
Both mean famous; cáiliúil is the everyday word, while clúiteach suggests good repute or renown.
