HeyRuaHow to say “forked” in Irish
- Irish:
- gabhlach
- English:
- forked, straddle-legged
- Word type:
- adjective
- More forked:
- níos gabhlaí
- Most forked:
- is gabhlaí
- Plural:
- gabhlacha
- Pronunciation:
- “GOW-lukh” /ˈɡəulˠəx/
What does “gabhlach” mean?
“Gabhlach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- forked
- Divided into two or more branches or prongs, like a fork.Also: branched, pronged, bifurcated.
1 other meaning: straddle-legged
- 2straddle-legged
- Having the legs spread wide apart, standing astride.Also: astride, long-legged.
“Gabhlach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is gabhlach after crann (tree, masculine), after craobh (branch, 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: craobh ghabhlach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: crann gabhlach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, gabhlacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: crainn ghabhlacha; after other plurals it does not: craobhacha gabhlacha.
More forked, most forked, very forked
Tá an bóthar seo níos gabhlaí ná an ceann eile. This road is more forked than the other one.
| more forked | níos gabhlaí | in the past tense: ní ba ghabhlaí |
|---|---|---|
| most forked | is gabhlaí | in the past tense: ba ghabhlaí |
| as forked as | chomh gabhlach le | no change after chomh |
| very forked | an-ghabhlach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too forked | róghabhlach | ró- lenites |
“Gabhlach” 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.
Forked in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for forked?
The Irish for forked is gabhlach (pronounced “GOW-lukh”). It comes after the noun: crann gabhlach, a forked tree; craobh ghabhlach, a forked branch.
How do you say more forked and most forked in Irish?
níos gabhlaí is more forked and is gabhlaí is most forked. In the past tense they become ní ba ghabhlaí and ba ghabhlaí.
Why does gabhlach become ghabhlach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So craobh ghabhlach (a forked branch) but crann gabhlach (a forked tree), because crann is masculine.
What is the plural of gabhlach?
With a plural noun gabhlach becomes gabhlacha: crainn ghabhlacha, craobhacha gabhlacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very forked in Irish?
an-ghabhlach. Too forked is róghabhlach, and as forked as is chomh gabhlach le.
Does gabhlach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Gabhlach can mean forked or straddle-legged, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Where does 'gabhlach' come from?
It comes from the noun 'gabhal', meaning a fork or crotch, so 'gabhlach' literally means having a fork or forks.
