HeyRuaHow to say “hard” in Irish
- Irish:
- dian
- English:
- hard, strict, vehement
- Word type:
- adjective
- Harder:
- níos déine
- Hardest:
- is déine
- Plural:
- diana
- Pronunciation:
- “dee-un” /dʲiənˠ/
What does “dian” mean?
“Dian” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- hard
- Needing a lot of effort or energy; done with great intensity.Also: intense, intensive, strenuous, arduous.
2 other meanings: strict or vehement
“Dian” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is dian after múinteoir (teacher, 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 dhian. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: múinteoir dian.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, diana. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: girseacha diana.
Harder, hardest, very hard
Tá an obair seo níos déine ná an obair eile. This work is harder than the other work.
| harder | níos déine | in the past tense: ní ba dhéine |
|---|---|---|
| hardest | is déine | in the past tense: ba dhéine |
| as hard as | chomh dian le | no change after chomh |
| very hard | an-dian | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too hard | ródhian | ró- lenites |
“Dian” 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.
Hard in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for hard?
The Irish for hard is dian (pronounced “dee-un”). It comes after the noun: múinteoir dian, a hard teacher; girseach dhian, a hard girl.
How do you say harder and hardest in Irish?
níos déine is harder and is déine is hardest. In the past tense they become ní ba dhéine and ba dhéine.
Why does dian become dhian?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So girseach dhian (a hard girl) but múinteoir dian (a hard teacher), because múinteoir is masculine.
What is the plural of dian?
With a plural noun dian becomes diana: múinteoirí diana, girseacha diana.
How do you say very hard in Irish?
an-dian. Too hard is ródhian, and as hard as is chomh dian le.
Does dian have more than one meaning?
Yes. Dian can mean hard, strict or vehement, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say someone is strict with somebody?
Use dian ar: Tá sé dian ar na páistí, he is strict with the children.
What is the difference between dian and crua?
Both can mean hard, but dian stresses intensity or strictness, as in obair dhian, while crua also means physically hard, as in cloch chrua.
