HeyRuaHow to say “friendly” in Irish
- Irish:
- muinteartha
- English:
- friendly, related
- Word type:
- adjective
- Friendlier:
- níos muinteartha
- Friendliest:
- is muinteartha
- Pronunciation:
- “MWIN-tchir-ha” /ˈmˠiːnʲtʲəɾˠhə/
What does “muinteartha” mean?
“Muinteartha” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- friendly
- Warm and kind towards other people, easy to get on with.Also: kindly, affable, sociable, warm.
1 other meaning: related
- 2related
- Belonging to the same family, connected by blood or marriage.Also: akin, kindred, of the same family.
Other Irish adjectives for friendly: cairdiúil (friendly), cairdeach (friendly), comharsanúil (neighbourly), comrádúil (companionable)
“Muinteartha” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is muinteartha 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 mhuinteartha. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear muinteartha.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, muinteartha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir mhuinteartha; after other plurals it does not: comharsana muinteartha.
Friendlier, friendliest, very friendly
Tá sí níos muinteartha ná a deartháir. She is friendlier than her brother.
| friendlier | níos muinteartha | in the past tense: ní ba mhuinteartha |
|---|---|---|
| friendliest | is muinteartha | in the past tense: ba mhuinteartha |
| as friendly as | chomh muinteartha le | no change after chomh |
| very friendly | an-mhuinteartha | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too friendly | rómhuinteartha | ró- lenites |
“Muinteartha” 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 muinteartha (pronounced “MWIN-tchir-ha”). It comes after the noun: fear muinteartha, a friendly man; comharsa mhuinteartha, a friendly neighbour.
How do you say friendlier and friendliest in Irish?
níos muinteartha is friendlier and is muinteartha is friendliest. In the past tense they become ní ba mhuinteartha and ba mhuinteartha.
Why does muinteartha become mhuinteartha?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So comharsa mhuinteartha (a friendly neighbour) but fear muinteartha (a friendly man), because fear is masculine.
How do you say very friendly in Irish?
an-mhuinteartha. Too friendly is rómhuinteartha, and as friendly as is chomh muinteartha le.
Does muinteartha have more than one meaning?
Yes. Muinteartha can mean friendly or related, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'muinteartha' and 'cairdiúil'?
Both mean friendly, but 'muinteartha' comes from 'muintir' (family, people) and also suggests closeness or kinship, while 'cairdiúil' simply means friendly like a friend.
Which preposition goes with 'muinteartha'?
Use 'le': 'Bhí sé muinteartha liom' means he was friendly to me.
