HeyRuaHow to say “foolish” in Irish
- Irish:
- pleidhciúil
- English:
- foolish, playful
- Word type:
- adjective
- More foolish:
- níos pleidhciúla
- Most foolish:
- is pleidhciúla
- Plural:
- pleidhciúla
- Pronunciation:
- “PLY-koo-il” /ˈpˠlʲəiçuːlʲ/
What does “pleidhciúil” mean?
“Pleidhciúil” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- foolish
- Acting in a silly, foolish or clownish way.Also: silly, clownish, daft, giddy.
1 other meaning: playful
- 2playful
- Fond of messing about and playing the fool.Also: messing, frivolous.
Other Irish adjectives for foolish: seafóideach (silly), amaideach (foolish), díchéillí (senseless), amadánta (foolish)
“Pleidhciúil” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is pleidhciúil after buachaill (boy, masculine), after bean (woman, 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: bean phleidhciúil. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: buachaill pleidhciúil.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, pleidhciúla. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: mná pleidhciúla.
More foolish, most foolish, very foolish
Tá sé níos pleidhciúla ná a dheartháir. He is sillier than his brother.
| more foolish | níos pleidhciúla | in the past tense: ní ba phleidhciúla |
|---|---|---|
| most foolish | is pleidhciúla | in the past tense: ba phleidhciúla |
| as foolish as | chomh pleidhciúil le | no change after chomh |
| very foolish | an-phleidhciúil | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too foolish | róphleidhciúil | ró- lenites |
“Pleidhciúil” 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.
Foolish in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for foolish?
The Irish for foolish is pleidhciúil (pronounced “PLY-koo-il”). It comes after the noun: buachaill pleidhciúil, a foolish boy; bean phleidhciúil, a foolish woman.
How do you say more foolish and most foolish in Irish?
níos pleidhciúla is more foolish and is pleidhciúla is most foolish. In the past tense they become ní ba phleidhciúla and ba phleidhciúla.
Why does pleidhciúil become phleidhciúil?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean phleidhciúil (a foolish woman) but buachaill pleidhciúil (a foolish boy), because buachaill is masculine.
What is the plural of pleidhciúil?
With a plural noun pleidhciúil becomes pleidhciúla: buachaillí pleidhciúla, mná pleidhciúla.
How do you say very foolish in Irish?
an-phleidhciúil. Too foolish is róphleidhciúil, and as foolish as is chomh pleidhciúil le.
Does pleidhciúil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Pleidhciúil can mean foolish or playful, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is pleidhciúil related to pleidhce?
The noun pleidhce means a fool or a messer, and pleidhciúil describes someone acting like one. The related noun pleidhcíocht means messing or foolery.
