HeyRuaHow to say “funny” in Irish
- Irish:
- saoithiúil
- English:
- funny, peculiar, learned
- Word type:
- adjective
- Funnier:
- níos saoithiúla
- Funniest:
- is saoithiúla
- Plural:
- saoithiúla
- Pronunciation:
- “SEE-hool” /ˈsiːhuːlʲ/
What does “saoithiúil” mean?
“Saoithiúil” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- funny
- Amusing in a pleasant, quirky way, often said of a witty person or a droll story.Also: droll, amusing, entertaining, witty.
2 other meanings: peculiar or learned
- 2peculiar
- Odd or strange in a way that is curious rather than bad.Also: strange, odd, quaint, queer.
- 3learned
- Wise, knowledgeable or accomplished in some skill.Also: wise, accomplished, skilled.
Other Irish adjectives for funny: greannmhar (funny), ábhachtach (humorous), barrúil (funny)
“Saoithiúil” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is saoithiúil after scéal (story, masculine), after aiste (essay, 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: aiste shaoithiúil. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: scéal saoithiúil.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, saoithiúla. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: aistí saoithiúla.
Funnier, funniest, very funny
Tá an scéal seo níos saoithiúla ná an ceann eile. This story is funnier than the other one.
| funnier | níos saoithiúla | in the past tense: ní ba shaoithiúla |
|---|---|---|
| funniest | is saoithiúla | in the past tense: ba shaoithiúla |
| as funny as | chomh saoithiúil le | no change after chomh |
| very funny | an-saoithiúil | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too funny | róshaoithiúil | ró- lenites |
“Saoithiúil” 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.
Funny in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for funny?
The Irish for funny is saoithiúil (pronounced “SEE-hool”). It comes after the noun: scéal saoithiúil, a funny story; aiste shaoithiúil, a funny essay.
How do you say funnier and funniest in Irish?
níos saoithiúla is funnier and is saoithiúla is funniest. In the past tense they become ní ba shaoithiúla and ba shaoithiúla.
Why does saoithiúil become shaoithiúil?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So aiste shaoithiúil (a funny essay) but scéal saoithiúil (a funny story), because scéal is masculine.
What is the plural of saoithiúil?
With a plural noun saoithiúil becomes saoithiúla: scéalta saoithiúla, aistí saoithiúla.
How do you say very funny in Irish?
an-saoithiúil. Too funny is róshaoithiúil, and as funny as is chomh saoithiúil le.
Does saoithiúil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Saoithiúil can mean funny, peculiar or learned, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is saoithiúil different from greannmhar?
Greannmhar is the general word for funny, while saoithiúil suggests a quaint, droll or peculiar kind of humour, as in duine saoithiúil, a bit of a character.
