HeyRuaHow to say “full of holes” in Irish
- Irish:
- pollach
- English:
- full of holes, porous
- Word type:
- adjective
- More full of holes:
- níos pollaí
- Most full of holes:
- is pollaí
- Plural:
- pollacha
- Pronunciation:
- “PUL-ukh” /ˈpˠɔlˠəx/
What does “pollach” mean?
“Pollach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- full of holes
- Having many holes or pits in it.Also: holey, pitted, potholed, perforated.
1 other meaning: porous
- 2porous
- Having tiny holes that let liquid or air pass through.Also: pervious.
“Pollach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is pollach after bóthar (road, masculine), after carraig (rock, 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: carraig phollach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: bóthar pollach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, pollacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: carraigeacha pollacha.
More full of holes, most full of holes, very full of holes
Tá an bóthar seo níos pollaí ná an ceann eile. This road has more potholes than the other one.
| more full of holes | níos pollaí | in the past tense: ní ba phollaí |
|---|---|---|
| most full of holes | is pollaí | in the past tense: ba phollaí |
| as full of holes as | chomh pollach le | no change after chomh |
| very full of holes | an-phollach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too full of holes | róphollach | ró- lenites |
“Pollach” 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.
Full of holes in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for full of holes?
The Irish for full of holes is pollach (pronounced “PUL-ukh”). It comes after the noun: bóthar pollach, a road full of holes; carraig phollach, a rock full of holes.
How do you say more full of holes and most full of holes in Irish?
níos pollaí is more full of holes and is pollaí is most full of holes. In the past tense they become ní ba phollaí and ba phollaí.
Why does pollach become phollach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So carraig phollach (a rock full of holes) but bóthar pollach (a road full of holes), because bóthar is masculine.
What is the plural of pollach?
With a plural noun pollach becomes pollacha: bóithre pollacha, carraigeacha pollacha.
How do you say very full of holes in Irish?
an-phollach. Too full of holes is róphollach, and as full of holes as is chomh pollach le.
Does pollach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Pollach can mean full of holes or porous, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Is 'pollach' related to the noun 'poll'?
Yes, 'pollach' comes from 'poll' (a hole), so 'bóthar pollach' is a road full of holes.
