HeyRuaHow to say “illegitimate” in Irish
- Irish:
- mídhlisteanach
- English:
- illegitimate, illegitimate (of a child)
- Word type:
- adjective
- More illegitimate:
- níos mídhlisteanaí
- Most illegitimate:
- is mídhlisteanaí
- Plural:
- mídhlisteanacha
- Pronunciation:
- “MEE-ghlish-tya-nakh” /ˈmʲiːɣlʲiʃtʲənˠəx/
What does “mídhlisteanach” mean?
“Mídhlisteanach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- illegitimate
- Not lawful or not recognised as valid or proper.Also: unlawful, illegal, invalid.
1 other meaning: illegitimate (of a child)
- 2illegitimate (of a child)
- Born to parents who were not married to each other.Also: illegitimate, born out of wedlock.
“Mídhlisteanach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is mídhlisteanach after rialtas (government, masculine), after céim (step, 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: céim mhídhlisteanach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: rialtas mídhlisteanach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, mídhlisteanacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: rialtais mhídhlisteanacha; after other plurals it does not: céimeanna mídhlisteanacha.
More illegitimate, most illegitimate, very illegitimate
Bhí an dara réimeas níos mídhlisteanaí ná an chéad cheann. The second regime was more illegitimate than the first.
| more illegitimate | níos mídhlisteanaí | in the past tense: ní ba mhídhlisteanaí |
|---|---|---|
| most illegitimate | is mídhlisteanaí | in the past tense: ba mhídhlisteanaí |
| as illegitimate as | chomh mídhlisteanach le | no change after chomh |
| very illegitimate | an-mhídhlisteanach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too illegitimate | rómhídhlisteanach | ró- lenites |
“Mídhlisteanach” 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.
Illegitimate in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for illegitimate?
The Irish for illegitimate is mídhlisteanach (pronounced “MEE-ghlish-tya-nakh”). It comes after the noun: rialtas mídhlisteanach, an illegitimate government; céim mhídhlisteanach, an illegitimate step.
How do you say more illegitimate and most illegitimate in Irish?
níos mídhlisteanaí is more illegitimate and is mídhlisteanaí is most illegitimate. In the past tense they become ní ba mhídhlisteanaí and ba mhídhlisteanaí.
Why does mídhlisteanach become mhídhlisteanach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So céim mhídhlisteanach (an illegitimate step) but rialtas mídhlisteanach (an illegitimate government), because rialtas is masculine.
What is the plural of mídhlisteanach?
With a plural noun mídhlisteanach becomes mídhlisteanacha: rialtais mhídhlisteanacha, céimeanna mídhlisteanacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very illegitimate in Irish?
an-mhídhlisteanach. Too illegitimate is rómhídhlisteanach, and as illegitimate as is chomh mídhlisteanach le.
Does mídhlisteanach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Mídhlisteanach can mean illegitimate or illegitimate (of a child), depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'mídhlisteanach' and 'mídhleathach'?
'Mídhlisteanach' means illegitimate, lacking rightful authority or validity, while 'mídhleathach' means illegal, against the law.
