HeyRuaHow to say “honest” in Irish
- Irish:
- macánta
- English:
- honest, decent, gentle
- Word type:
- adjective
- More honest:
- níos macánta
- Most honest:
- is macánta
- Pronunciation:
- “MOK-awn-ta” /ˈmakɑːn̪ˠt̪ˠə/
What does “macánta” mean?
“Macánta” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- honest
- Truthful and fair, not willing to cheat or lie.Also: truthful, upright, trustworthy.
2 other meanings: decent or gentle
- 2decent
- Good-natured, respectable and kind in behaviour.Also: good-natured, respectable, nice.
- 3gentle
- Mild and quiet in manner, like a well-behaved child or animal.Also: mild, meek, quiet.
Other Irish adjectives for honest: fírinneach (truthful), cneasta (honest), ionraic (honest)
“Macánta” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is macánta after fear (man, masculine), after bean (woman, 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: bean mhacánta. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear macánta.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, macánta. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir mhacánta; after other plurals it does not: mná macánta.
More honest, most honest, very honest
Tá Seán níos macánta ná a dheartháir. Seán is more honest than his brother.
| more honest | níos macánta | in the past tense: ní ba mhacánta |
|---|---|---|
| most honest | is macánta | in the past tense: ba mhacánta |
| as honest as | chomh macánta le | no change after chomh |
| very honest | an-mhacánta | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too honest | rómhacánta | ró- lenites |
“Macánta” 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.
Honest in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for honest?
The Irish for honest is macánta (pronounced “MOK-awn-ta”). It comes after the noun: fear macánta, an honest man; bean mhacánta, an honest woman.
How do you say more honest and most honest in Irish?
níos macánta is more honest and is macánta is most honest. In the past tense they become ní ba mhacánta and ba mhacánta.
Why does macánta become mhacánta?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean mhacánta (an honest woman) but fear macánta (an honest man), because fear is masculine.
How do you say very honest in Irish?
an-mhacánta. Too honest is rómhacánta, and as honest as is chomh macánta le.
Does macánta have more than one meaning?
Yes. Macánta can mean honest, decent or gentle, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between macánta and ionraic?
Both mean honest; ionraic stresses integrity and uprightness, while macánta also suggests a decent, gentle nature. The opposite of macánta is mímhacánta.
