HeyRuaHow to say “idle” in Irish
- Irish:
- díomhaoin
- English:
- idle, unmarried, vain, fallow
- Word type:
- adjective
- More idle:
- níos díomhaoine
- Most idle:
- is díomhaoine
- Plural:
- díomhaoine
- Pronunciation:
- “DEE-veen” /ˈdʲiːwiːnʲ/
What does “díomhaoin” mean?
“Díomhaoin” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- idle
- Not working or not busy, with nothing to do.Also: unoccupied, unemployed, not busy, inactive.
3 other meanings: unmarried or vain or fallow
- 2unmarried
- Not married, single.Also: single, unattached.
- 3vain
- Useless or without result.Also: useless, fruitless, futile.
- 4fallow
- Of land or a resource, unused or lying waste.Also: unused, waste, empty.
Other Irish adjectives for idle: leisciúil (lazy)
“Díomhaoin” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is díomhaoin after fear (man, 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 dhíomhaoin. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear díomhaoin.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, díomhaoine. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir dhíomhaoine; after other plurals it does not: girseacha díomhaoine.
More idle, most idle, very idle
| more idle | níos díomhaoine | in the past tense: ní ba dhíomhaoine |
|---|---|---|
| most idle | is díomhaoine | in the past tense: ba dhíomhaoine |
| as idle as | chomh díomhaoin le | no change after chomh |
| very idle | an-díomhaoin | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too idle | ródhíomhaoin | ró- lenites |
“Díomhaoin” 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.
Idle in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for idle?
The Irish for idle is díomhaoin (pronounced “DEE-veen”). It comes after the noun: fear díomhaoin, an idle man; girseach dhíomhaoin, an idle girl.
How do you say more idle and most idle in Irish?
níos díomhaoine is more idle and is díomhaoine is most idle. In the past tense they become ní ba dhíomhaoine and ba dhíomhaoine.
Why does díomhaoin become dhíomhaoin?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So girseach dhíomhaoin (an idle girl) but fear díomhaoin (an idle man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of díomhaoin?
With a plural noun díomhaoin becomes díomhaoine: fir dhíomhaoine, girseacha díomhaoine. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very idle in Irish?
an-díomhaoin. Too idle is ródhíomhaoin, and as idle as is chomh díomhaoin le.
Does díomhaoin have more than one meaning?
Yes. Díomhaoin can mean idle, unmarried, vain or fallow, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Does 'díomhaoin' mean the same as 'leisciúil'?
No. 'Díomhaoin' means idle or not busy, which may not be your fault, while 'leisciúil' means lazy.
How do I say 'unemployed' in modern Irish?
'Dífhostaithe' is the usual official word, though 'díomhaoin' is also used for being out of work.
