HeyRuaHow to say “hollow” in Irish
- Irish:
- toll
- English:
- hollow, deep
- Word type:
- adjective
- More hollow:
- níos toille
- Most hollow:
- is toille
- Plural:
- tolla
- Pronunciation:
- “towl” /t̪ˠəul̪ˠ/
What does “toll” mean?
“Toll” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- hollow
- Having an empty space inside, not solid.Also: empty, holed, pierced, perforated.
1 other meaning: deep
- 2deep
- Of a voice or sound: deep and hollow, resonant.Also: hollow-sounding, resonant, booming.
The same spelling has its own page as:
“Toll” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is toll after crann (tree, masculine), after carraig (rock, 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: carraig tholl. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: crann toll.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, tolla. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: crainn tholla; after other plurals it does not: carraigeacha tolla.
More hollow, most hollow, very hollow
| more hollow | níos toille | in the past tense: ní ba thoille |
|---|---|---|
| most hollow | is toille | in the past tense: ba thoille |
| as hollow as | chomh toll le | no change after chomh |
| very hollow | an-toll | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too hollow | rótholl | ró- lenites |
“Toll” 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.
Hollow in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for hollow?
The Irish for hollow is toll (pronounced “towl”). It comes after the noun: crann toll, a hollow tree; carraig tholl, a hollow rock.
How do you say more hollow and most hollow in Irish?
níos toille is more hollow and is toille is most hollow. In the past tense they become ní ba thoille and ba thoille.
Why does toll become tholl?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So carraig tholl (a hollow rock) but crann toll (a hollow tree), because crann is masculine.
What is the plural of toll?
With a plural noun toll becomes tolla: crainn tholla, carraigeacha tolla. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very hollow in Irish?
an-toll. Too hollow is rótholl, and as hollow as is chomh toll le.
Does toll have more than one meaning?
Yes. Toll can mean hollow or deep, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Is 'toll' the same as 'folamh'?
Not quite: 'folamh' means empty of contents, while 'toll' means hollow or having a hole, as in 'crann toll', a hollow tree.
