HeyRuaHow to say “hidden” in Irish
- Irish:
- folaitheach
- English:
- hidden, secret, latent
- Word type:
- adjective
- More hidden:
- níos folaithí
- Most hidden:
- is folaithí
- Plural:
- folaitheacha
- Pronunciation:
- “FUL-ih-hukh” /ˈfˠɔlˠɪhəx/
What does “folaitheach” mean?
“Folaitheach” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- hidden
- Kept out of sight or not easily seen.Also: concealed, covert.
2 other meanings: secret or latent
- 2secret
- Done or kept secretly, not known to others.Also: clandestine, furtive.
- 3latent
- Present but not yet visible or active.Also: obscure, occult.
Other Irish adjectives for hidden: rúnda (secret)
“Folaitheach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is folaitheach after bealach (way, masculine), after cúis (cause, 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: cúis fholaitheach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: bealach folaitheach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, folaitheacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: cúiseanna folaitheacha.
More hidden, most hidden, very hidden
Bhí an dara doras níos folaithí ná an chéad cheann. The second door was more hidden than the first.
| more hidden | níos folaithí | in the past tense: ní b'fholaithí |
|---|---|---|
| most hidden | is folaithí | in the past tense: ab fholaithí |
| as hidden as | chomh folaitheach le | no change after chomh |
| very hidden | an-fholaitheach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too hidden | rófholaitheach | ró- lenites |
“Folaitheach” 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.
Hidden in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for hidden?
The Irish for hidden is folaitheach (pronounced “FUL-ih-hukh”). It comes after the noun: bealach folaitheach, a hidden way; cúis fholaitheach, a hidden cause.
How do you say more hidden and most hidden in Irish?
níos folaithí is more hidden and is folaithí is most hidden. In the past tense they become ní b'fholaithí and ab fholaithí.
Why does folaitheach become fholaitheach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So cúis fholaitheach (a hidden cause) but bealach folaitheach (a hidden way), because bealach is masculine.
What is the plural of folaitheach?
With a plural noun folaitheach becomes folaitheacha: bealaí folaitheacha, cúiseanna folaitheacha.
How do you say very hidden in Irish?
an-fholaitheach. Too hidden is rófholaitheach, and as hidden as is chomh folaitheach le.
Does folaitheach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Folaitheach can mean hidden, secret or latent, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between folaitheach and rúnda?
Folaitheach stresses that something is hidden from view, while rúnda means secret or confidential, as in cáipéis rúnda, a confidential document.
