HeyRuaHow to say “good” in Irish
- Irish:
- maith
- English:
- good, well, skilled, kind
- Word type:
- adjective
- Better:
- níos fearr
- Best:
- is fearr
- Plural:
- maithe
- Pronunciation:
- “mah” /mˠah/
What does “maith” mean?
“Maith” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- good
- Of a high standard, pleasant or as it should be.Also: fine, nice, decent.
3 other meanings: well or skilled or kind
- 2well
- In good health or in a good state, usually with 'go' as in 'go maith'.Also: healthy, fine.
- 3skilled
- Able to do something well, used with 'ag' as in 'maith ag snámh'.Also: good at, able, capable.
- 4kind
- Kind or generous towards someone.Also: generous, good-hearted.
The same spelling has its own page as:
“Is maith liom”: I like
Irish has no verb for like: you say that something is good with you, is maith liom, and the thing you like comes last.
Is maith liom tae le bainne. I like tea with milk.
An maith leat ceol traidisiúnta? Do you like traditional music?
Similar phrases: is breá liom (I love), is aoibhinn liom (I adore), taitníonn sé liom (I like it).
“Maith” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is maith after lá (day, masculine), after oíche (night, 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: oíche mhaith. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: lá maith.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, maithe. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: oícheanta maithe.
Better, best, very good
| better | níos fearr | in the past tense: ní b'fhearr |
|---|---|---|
| best | is fearr | in the past tense: ab fhearr |
| as good as | chomh maith le | no change after chomh |
| very good | an-mhaith | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too good | rómhaith | ró- lenites |
“Maith” in a sentence: Irish examples
With a masculine noun, a feminine noun, a plural, a comparison and on its own.
Phrases with maith: Maidin mhaith (good morning), Tráthnóna maith duit (good afternoon), Tráthnóna maith duit (good evening), Oíche mhaith (good night), Go raibh maith agat (thank you)
Other adjectives in Irish
More everyday Irish adjectives to learn next.
Phrases with “maith”
Good in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for good?
The Irish for good is maith (pronounced “mah”). It comes after the noun: lá maith, a good day; oíche mhaith, a good night.
How do you say I like in Irish?
Is maith liom, followed by the thing you like: Is maith liom tae, I like tea. With other people: is maith leat (you like), is maith leis (he likes), is maith léi (she likes), is maith linn, is maith libh, is maith leo. The question is An maith leat…? and the negative is Ní maith liom…
How do you say I would like in Irish?
Ba mhaith liom: Ba mhaith liom cupán tae, I would like a cup of tea. Would you like…? is Ar mhaith leat…? and I would not like is Níor mhaith liom.
How do you say I prefer in Irish?
Is fearr liom, using fearr, the comparative of maith: Is fearr liom tae ná caife, I prefer tea to coffee. I would prefer is B'fhearr liom.
How do you say better and best in Irish?
níos fearr is better and is fearr is best. In the past tense they become ní b'fhearr and ab fhearr.
Why does maith become mhaith?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So oíche mhaith (a good night) but lá maith (a good day), because lá is masculine.
What is the plural of maith?
With a plural noun maith becomes maithe: laethanta maithe, oícheanta maithe.
How do you say very good in Irish?
an-mhaith. Too good is rómhaith, and as good as is chomh maith le.
Does maith have more than one meaning?
Yes. Maith can mean good, well, skilled or kind, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'I like' with maith?
Use 'is maith liom', for example 'Is maith liom ceol' means 'I like music'. The negative is 'ní maith liom'.
Why is the comparative of maith 'fearr'?
Maith is irregular: 'níos fearr' means 'better' and 'is fearr' means 'best', as in 'Is fearr liom tae' (I prefer tea).
