HeyRuaHow to say “illegal” in Irish
- Irish:
- neamhdhleathach
- English:
- illegal
- Word type:
- adjective
- More illegal:
- níos neamhdhleathaí
- Most illegal:
- is neamhdhleathaí
- Plural:
- neamhdhleathacha
- Pronunciation:
- “NYOW-yla-hoch” /ˈnʲaũˌjlʲahəx/
What does “neamhdhleathach” mean?
- illegal
- Not allowed by law; against the law.Also: unlawful, illicit, against the law.
Other Irish adjectives for illegal: mídhleathach (illegal), coiriúil (criminal), neamhdhlíthiúil (illegal)
“Neamhdhleathach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is neamhdhleathach after gnó (business, masculine), after gníomhaíocht (activity, feminine) and after a plural.
séimhiú (the h) the ending
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, neamhdhleathacha.
More illegal, most illegal, very illegal
| more illegal | níos neamhdhleathaí | in the past tense: ní ba neamhdhleathaí |
|---|---|---|
| most illegal | is neamhdhleathaí | in the past tense: ba neamhdhleathaí |
| as illegal as | chomh neamhdhleathach le | no change after chomh |
| very illegal | an-neamhdhleathach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too illegal | róneamhdhleathach | ró- lenites |
“Neamhdhleathach” 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.
Illegal in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for illegal?
The Irish for illegal is neamhdhleathach (pronounced “NYOW-yla-hoch”). It comes after the noun: gnó neamhdhleathach, an illegal business; gníomhaíocht neamhdhleathach, an illegal activity.
How do you say more illegal and most illegal in Irish?
níos neamhdhleathaí is more illegal and is neamhdhleathaí is most illegal. In the past tense they become ní ba neamhdhleathaí and ba neamhdhleathaí.
What is the plural of neamhdhleathach?
With a plural noun neamhdhleathach becomes neamhdhleathacha: gnóthaí neamhdhleathacha, gníomhaíochtaí neamhdhleathacha.
How do you say very illegal in Irish?
an-neamhdhleathach. Too illegal is róneamhdhleathach, and as illegal as is chomh neamhdhleathach le.
What is the difference between 'neamhdhleathach' and 'mídhleathach'?
Both mean illegal; 'mídhleathach' is very common in official use, while 'neamhdhleathach' is also widely used with the same meaning.
What is the opposite of 'neamhdhleathach'?
The opposite is 'dleathach', meaning legal or lawful.
