HeyRuaHow to say “friendly” in Irish
- Irish:
- cairdeach
- English:
- friendly, related
- Word type:
- adjective
- Friendlier:
- níos cairdí
- Friendliest:
- is cairdí
- Plural:
- cairdeacha
- Pronunciation:
- “KAR-jukh” /ˈkaːɾˠdʲəx/
What does “cairdeach” mean?
“Cairdeach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- friendly
- Kind and pleasant towards other people, behaving like a friend.Also: amicable, companionable, sociable.
1 other meaning: related
- 2related
- Connected to someone by family or kinship.Also: akin, kindred.
Other Irish adjectives for friendly: cairdiúil (friendly), muinteartha (friendly), comharsanúil (neighbourly), comrádúil (companionable)
“Cairdeach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is cairdeach after fear (man, masculine), after comharsa (neighbour, 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: comharsa chairdeach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear cairdeach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, cairdeacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir chairdeacha; after other plurals it does not: comharsana cairdeacha.
Friendlier, friendliest, very friendly
| friendlier | níos cairdí | in the past tense: ní ba chairdí |
|---|---|---|
| friendliest | is cairdí | in the past tense: ba chairdí |
| as friendly as | chomh cairdeach le | no change after chomh |
| very friendly | an-chairdeach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too friendly | róchairdeach | ró- lenites |
“Cairdeach” 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.
Friendly in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for friendly?
The Irish for friendly is cairdeach (pronounced “KAR-jukh”). It comes after the noun: fear cairdeach, a friendly man; comharsa chairdeach, a friendly neighbour.
How do you say friendlier and friendliest in Irish?
níos cairdí is friendlier and is cairdí is friendliest. In the past tense they become ní ba chairdí and ba chairdí.
Why does cairdeach become chairdeach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So comharsa chairdeach (a friendly neighbour) but fear cairdeach (a friendly man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of cairdeach?
With a plural noun cairdeach becomes cairdeacha: fir chairdeacha, comharsana cairdeacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very friendly in Irish?
an-chairdeach. Too friendly is róchairdeach, and as friendly as is chomh cairdeach le.
Does cairdeach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cairdeach can mean friendly or related, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'cairdeach' and 'cairdiúil'?
Both mean friendly, but 'cairdiúil' is the more common everyday word, while 'cairdeach' can also mean related by kinship, as in 'cairdeach do' or 'cairdeach le'.
