HeyRuaHow to say “French” in Irish
- Irish:
- Francach
- English:
- French, foreign
- Word type:
- adjective
- More French:
- níos Francaí
- Most French:
- is Francaí
- Plural:
- Francacha
- Pronunciation:
- “FRANG-kuch” /ˈfˠɾˠaŋkəx/
What does “Francach” mean?
“Francach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- French
- Coming from or relating to France, its people or its culture.Also: gallic, from France.
1 other meaning: foreign
- 2foreign
- In older or dialect use, foreign or exotic, often applied to introduced plants and animals.Also: exotic, introduced.
“Francach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is Francach after fíon (wine, 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 Fhrancach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fíon Francach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, Francacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: mná Francacha.
More French, most French, very French
| more French | níos Francaí | in the past tense: ní ba Fhrancaí |
|---|---|---|
| most French | is Francaí | in the past tense: ba Fhrancaí |
| as French as | chomh Francach le | no change after chomh |
| very French | an-Fhrancach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too French | ró-Fhrancach | ró- lenites |
“Francach” 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.
French in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for French?
The Irish for French is Francach (pronounced “FRANG-kuch”). It comes after the noun: fíon Francach, French wine; bean Fhrancach, a French woman.
How do you say more French and most French in Irish?
níos Francaí is more French and is Francaí is most French. In the past tense they become ní ba Fhrancaí and ba Fhrancaí.
Why does Francach become Fhrancach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean Fhrancach (a French woman) but fíon Francach (French wine), because fíon is masculine.
What is the plural of Francach?
With a plural noun Francach becomes Francacha: fíonta Francacha, mná Francacha.
How do you say very French in Irish?
an-Fhrancach. Too French is ró-Fhrancach, and as French as is chomh Francach le.
Does Francach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Francach can mean French or foreign, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the word for the French language?
The language is 'Fraincis', and France is 'an Fhrainc'. 'Francach' is the adjective and also the noun for a French person.
Why does 'francach' also mean rat?
Older Irish used 'francach' for things that came from abroad, so 'francach' or 'luch fhrancach' came to mean a rat.
