HeyRuaHow to say “fat” in Irish
- Irish:
- méith
- English:
- fat, rich, juicy
- Word type:
- adjective
- Fatter:
- níos méithe
- Fattest:
- is méithe
- Plural:
- méithe
- Pronunciation:
- “may” /mʲeː/
What does “méith” mean?
“Méith” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- fat
- Well fed and fleshy, especially of animals or meat.Also: plump, fleshy, well-fed.
2 other meanings: rich or juicy
- 2rich
- Of land or soil: fertile and productive.Also: fertile, lush, fruitful.
- 3juicy
- Of food: rich, fatty or succulent.Also: succulent, rich, greasy.
Other Irish adjectives for fat: ramhar (fat)
“Méith” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is méith after ainmhí (animal, masculine), after caora (sheep, 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: caora mhéith. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: ainmhí méith.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, méithe. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant, caoirigh mhéithe; after other plurals it does not: ainmhithe méithe.
Fatter, fattest, very fat
Tá an féar seo níos méithe ná an féar thall. This grass is lusher than the grass over there.
| fatter | níos méithe | in the past tense: ní ba mhéithe |
|---|---|---|
| fattest | is méithe | in the past tense: ba mhéithe |
| as fat as | chomh méith le | no change after chomh |
| very fat | an-mhéith | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too fat | rómhéith | ró- lenites |
“Méith” 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.
Fat in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for fat?
The Irish for fat is méith (pronounced “may”). It comes after the noun: ainmhí méith, a fat animal; caora mhéith, fat sheep.
How do you say fatter and fattest in Irish?
níos méithe is fatter and is méithe is fattest. In the past tense they become ní ba mhéithe and ba mhéithe.
Why does méith become mhéith?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So caora mhéith (fat sheep) but ainmhí méith (a fat animal), because ainmhí is masculine.
What is the plural of méith?
With a plural noun méith becomes méithe: ainmhithe méithe, caoirigh mhéithe. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very fat in Irish?
an-mhéith. Too fat is rómhéith, and as fat as is chomh méith le.
Does méith have more than one meaning?
Yes. Méith can mean fat, rich or juicy, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'méith' and 'ramhar'?
'Ramhar' is the everyday word for fat or thick, while 'méith' suggests richness, so 'talamh méith' is fertile land and 'feoil mhéith' is rich, fatty meat.
