HeyRuaHow to say “gentle” in Irish
- Irish:
- míonla
- English:
- gentle, smooth
- Word type:
- adjective
- More gentle:
- níos míonla
- Most gentle:
- is míonla
- Pronunciation:
- “MEEN-la” /mʲiːnˠl̪ˠə/
What does “míonla” mean?
“Míonla” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- gentle
- Mild and kind in manner, not harsh or rough.Also: mild, meek, soft-spoken, kindly.
“Míonla” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is míonla 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 mhíonla. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear míonla.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, míonla. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir mhíonla; after other plurals it does not: mná míonla.
More gentle, most gentle, very gentle
Tá sí níos míonla ná a deirfiúr. She is gentler than her sister.
| more gentle | níos míonla | in the past tense: ní ba mhíonla |
|---|---|---|
| most gentle | is míonla | in the past tense: ba mhíonla |
| as gentle as | chomh míonla le | no change after chomh |
| very gentle | an-mhíonla | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too gentle | rómhíonla | ró- lenites |
“Míonla” 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.
Gentle in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for gentle?
The Irish for gentle is míonla (pronounced “MEEN-la”). It comes after the noun: fear míonla, a gentle man; bean mhíonla, a gentle woman.
How do you say more gentle and most gentle in Irish?
níos míonla is more gentle and is míonla is most gentle. In the past tense they become ní ba mhíonla and ba mhíonla.
Why does míonla become mhíonla?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean mhíonla (a gentle woman) but fear míonla (a gentle man), because fear is masculine.
How do you say very gentle in Irish?
an-mhíonla. Too gentle is rómhíonla, and as gentle as is chomh míonla le.
Does míonla have more than one meaning?
Yes. Míonla can mean gentle or smooth, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is 'míonla' different from 'séimh'?
Both mean gentle, but 'míonla' stresses a meek, mild temperament, while 'séimh' is broader and also used of weather, as in 'lá séimh'.
