HeyRuaHow to say “handsome” in Irish
- Irish:
- dóighiúil
- English:
- handsome, decent
- Word type:
- adjective
- More handsome:
- níos dóighiúla
- Most handsome:
- is dóighiúla
- Plural:
- dóighiúla
- Pronunciation:
- “DOE-yool” /ˈd̪ˠoːjuːlʲ/
What does “dóighiúil” mean?
“Dóighiúil” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- handsome
- Pleasant to look at, especially of a person.Also: good-looking, beautiful, attractive, comely.
“Dóighiúil” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is dóighiúil after fear (man, masculine), after girseach (girl, 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: girseach dhóighiúil. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear dóighiúil.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, dóighiúla. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir dhóighiúla; after other plurals it does not: girseacha dóighiúla.
More handsome, most handsome, very handsome
Tá Seán níos dóighiúla ná a athair. Seán is more handsome than his father.
| more handsome | níos dóighiúla | in the past tense: ní ba dhóighiúla |
|---|---|---|
| most handsome | is dóighiúla | in the past tense: ba dhóighiúla |
| as handsome as | chomh dóighiúil le | no change after chomh |
| very handsome | an-dóighiúil | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too handsome | ródhóighiúil | ró- lenites |
“Dóighiúil” 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.
Handsome in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for handsome?
The Irish for handsome is dóighiúil (pronounced “DOE-yool”). It comes after the noun: fear dóighiúil, a handsome man; girseach dhóighiúil, a handsome girl.
How do you say more handsome and most handsome in Irish?
níos dóighiúla is more handsome and is dóighiúla is most handsome. In the past tense they become ní ba dhóighiúla and ba dhóighiúla.
Why does dóighiúil become dhóighiúil?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So girseach dhóighiúil (a handsome girl) but fear dóighiúil (a handsome man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of dóighiúil?
With a plural noun dóighiúil becomes dóighiúla: fir dhóighiúla, girseacha dóighiúla. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very handsome in Irish?
an-dóighiúil. Too handsome is ródhóighiúil, and as handsome as is chomh dóighiúil le.
Does dóighiúil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Dóighiúil can mean handsome or decent, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'dóighiúil' and 'dathúil'?
Both mean good-looking; 'dathúil' is very common for handsome people, while 'dóighiúil' can also mean decent or generous, as in 'suim dhóighiúil'.
