HeyRuaHow to say “generous” in Irish
- Irish:
- flaithiúil
- English:
- generous, princely, hospitable
- Word type:
- adjective
- More generous:
- níos flaithiúla
- Most generous:
- is flaithiúla
- Plural:
- flaithiúla
- Pronunciation:
- “fla-HOOL” /flˠaˈhuːlʲ/
What does “flaithiúil” mean?
“Flaithiúil” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- generous
- Willing to give freely, especially money, food or hospitality.Also: lavish, open-handed, munificent, liberal.
2 other meanings: princely or hospitable
- 2princely
- Grand and lavish in the manner of a prince or chief.Also: lordly, magnificent.
- 3hospitable
- Welcoming and generous to guests.Also: welcoming.
Other Irish adjectives for generous: flaithiúlach (generous), flaithbheartach (generous), fialmhar (generous), tabhartasach (generous)
“Flaithiúil” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is flaithiúil 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 fhlaithiúil. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear flaithiúil.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, flaithiúla. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir fhlaithiúla; after other plurals it does not: mná flaithiúla.
More generous, most generous, very generous
Tá Seán níos flaithiúla ná a dheartháir. Seán is more generous than his brother.
| more generous | níos flaithiúla | in the past tense: ní ba fhlaithiúla |
|---|---|---|
| most generous | is flaithiúla | in the past tense: ba fhlaithiúla |
| as generous as | chomh flaithiúil le | no change after chomh |
| very generous | an-fhlaithiúil | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too generous | rófhlaithiúil | ró- lenites |
“Flaithiúil” 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 flaithiúil (pronounced “fla-HOOL”). It comes after the noun: fear flaithiúil, a generous man; bean fhlaithiúil, a generous woman.
How do you say more generous and most generous in Irish?
níos flaithiúla is more generous and is flaithiúla is most generous. In the past tense they become ní ba fhlaithiúla and ba fhlaithiúla.
Why does flaithiúil become fhlaithiúil?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean fhlaithiúil (a generous woman) but fear flaithiúil (a generous man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of flaithiúil?
With a plural noun flaithiúil becomes flaithiúla: fir fhlaithiúla, mná flaithiúla. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very generous in Irish?
an-fhlaithiúil. Too generous is rófhlaithiúil, and as generous as is chomh flaithiúil le.
Does flaithiúil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Flaithiúil can mean generous, princely or hospitable, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'flaithiúil' and 'fial'?
Both mean generous; 'fial' is the general word, while 'flaithiúil' suggests lavish, princely generosity, from 'flaith', a prince.
Which preposition goes with 'flaithiúil'?
Use 'le': 'flaithiúil le daoine' means generous to people, and 'flaithiúil lena chuid' means generous with his things.
