HeyRuaHow to say “generous” in Irish
- Irish:
- flaithiúlach
- English:
- generous, lavish
- Word type:
- adjective
- More generous:
- níos flaithiúlaí
- Most generous:
- is flaithiúlaí
- Plural:
- flaithiúlacha
- Pronunciation:
- “FLAH-hoo-lukh” /ˈfɫahuːɫəx/
What does “flaithiúlach” mean?
“Flaithiúlach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- generous
- Willing to give freely and share what you have with others.Also: open-handed, liberal, bountiful.
1 other meaning: lavish
- 2lavish
- Giving or spending very freely, sometimes more than is needed.Also: extravagant, free-spending, munificent.
Other Irish adjectives for generous: flaithiúil (generous), flaithbheartach (generous), fialmhar (generous), tabhartasach (generous)
“Flaithiúlach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is flaithiúlach after fear (man, 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 fhlaithiúlach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear flaithiúlach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, flaithiúlacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir fhlaithiúlacha; after other plurals it does not: mná flaithiúlacha.
More generous, most generous, very generous
Tá Seán níos flaithiúlaí ná a dheartháir. Seán is more generous than his brother.
| more generous | níos flaithiúlaí | in the past tense: ní ba fhlaithiúlaí |
|---|---|---|
| most generous | is flaithiúlaí | in the past tense: ba fhlaithiúlaí |
| as generous as | chomh flaithiúlach le | no change after chomh |
| very generous | an-fhlaithiúlach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too generous | rófhlaithiúlach | ró- lenites |
“Flaithiúlach” 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.
Generous in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for generous?
The Irish for generous is flaithiúlach (pronounced “FLAH-hoo-lukh”). It comes after the noun: fear flaithiúlach, a generous man; bean fhlaithiúlach, a generous woman.
How do you say more generous and most generous in Irish?
níos flaithiúlaí is more generous and is flaithiúlaí is most generous. In the past tense they become ní ba fhlaithiúlaí and ba fhlaithiúlaí.
Why does flaithiúlach become fhlaithiúlach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean fhlaithiúlach (a generous woman) but fear flaithiúlach (a generous man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of flaithiúlach?
With a plural noun flaithiúlach becomes flaithiúlacha: fir fhlaithiúlacha, mná flaithiúlacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very generous in Irish?
an-fhlaithiúlach. Too generous is rófhlaithiúlach, and as generous as is chomh flaithiúlach le.
Does flaithiúlach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Flaithiúlach can mean generous or lavish, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'flaithiúlach' and 'fial'?
Both mean generous; 'fial' is a general word for generous or hospitable, while 'flaithiúlach' often suggests lavish, open-handed giving, like a prince ('flaith').
Which preposition goes with 'flaithiúlach'?
Use 'le': 'flaithiúlach le daoine' means generous to people, and 'flaithiúlach lena chuid' means generous with his things.
