HeyRuaHow to say “foreign” in Irish
- Irish:
- gallda
- English:
- foreign, anglicized
- Word type:
- adjective
- More foreign:
- níos gallda
- Most foreign:
- is gallda
- Pronunciation:
- “GOWL-da” /ˈɡaul̪ˠd̪ˠə/
What does “gallda” mean?
“Gallda” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- foreign
- Coming from or belonging to another country, not native.Also: alien, strange, outlandish.
1 other meaning: anglicized
- 2anglicized
- English in character or influenced by English ways, especially in an Irish context.Also: English, Anglo-Irish, non-Irish.
Other Irish adjectives for foreign: eachtrach (foreign), eachtrannach (foreign), iasachtach (foreign), strainséartha (strange)
“Gallda” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is gallda after baile (home, masculine), after cathair (city, 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: cathair ghallda. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: baile gallda.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, gallda. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: cathracha gallda.
More foreign, most foreign, very foreign
Tá an baile seo níos gallda ná an Ghaeltacht. This town is more anglicized than the Gaeltacht.
| more foreign | níos gallda | in the past tense: ní ba ghallda |
|---|---|---|
| most foreign | is gallda | in the past tense: ba ghallda |
| as foreign as | chomh gallda le | no change after chomh |
| very foreign | an-ghallda | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too foreign | róghallda | ró- lenites |
“Gallda” 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.
Foreign in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for foreign?
The Irish for foreign is gallda (pronounced “GOWL-da”). It comes after the noun: baile gallda, a foreign home; cathair ghallda, a foreign city.
How do you say more foreign and most foreign in Irish?
níos gallda is more foreign and is gallda is most foreign. In the past tense they become ní ba ghallda and ba ghallda.
Why does gallda become ghallda?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So cathair ghallda (a foreign city) but baile gallda (a foreign home), because baile is masculine.
How do you say very foreign in Irish?
an-ghallda. Too foreign is róghallda, and as foreign as is chomh gallda le.
Does gallda have more than one meaning?
Yes. Gallda can mean foreign or anglicized, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the opposite of 'gallda'?
The opposite is 'Gaelach' (Irish, Gaelic in character), as in 'nósanna Gaelacha' versus 'nósanna gallda'.
How is 'gallda' related to 'Gall'?
'Gallda' comes from 'Gall', a foreigner, historically a Norseman or Englishman, and gives words like 'Galltacht' and 'Galldú', anglicization.
