HeyRuaHow to say “holy” in Irish
- Irish:
- naomh
- English:
- holy
- Word type:
- adjective
- Holier:
- níos naoimhe
- Holiest:
- is naoimhe
- Plural:
- naomha
- Pronunciation:
- “nayv” /n̪ˠeːvˠ/
What does “naomh” mean?
- holy
- Sacred or connected with God and religion.Also: sacred, blessed, saintly.
Other Irish adjectives for holy: naofa (holy), beannaithe (blessed)
“Naomh” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is naomh after tobar (well, masculine), after cathair (city, feminine) and after a plural.
séimhiú (the h) the ending
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, naomha.
Holier, holiest, very holy
| holier | níos naoimhe | in the past tense: ní ba naoimhe |
|---|---|---|
| holiest | is naoimhe | in the past tense: ba naoimhe |
| as holy as | chomh naomh le | no change after chomh |
| very holy | an-naomh | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too holy | rónaomh | ró- lenites |
“Naomh” 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.
Holy in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for holy?
The Irish for holy is naomh (pronounced “nayv”). It comes after the noun: tobar naomh, a holy well; cathair naomh, a holy city.
How do you say holier and holiest in Irish?
níos naoimhe is holier and is naoimhe is holiest. In the past tense they become ní ba naoimhe and ba naoimhe.
What is the plural of naomh?
With a plural noun naomh becomes naomha: toibreacha naomha, cathracha naomha.
How do you say very holy in Irish?
an-naomh. Too holy is rónaomh, and as holy as is chomh naomh le.
What is the difference between 'naomh' and 'naofa'?
'Naofa' is the usual everyday word for holy, as in 'uisce naofa'; 'naomh' as an adjective is more literary and appears in fixed names like 'an Spiorad Naomh' (the Holy Spirit).
Is 'naomh' also a noun?
Yes, 'naomh' also means a saint, as in 'Naomh Pádraig' (Saint Patrick).
