HeyRuaHow to say “important” in Irish
- Irish:
- tábhachtach
- English:
- important, substantial, thrifty
- Word type:
- adjective
- More important:
- níos tábhachtaí
- Most important:
- is tábhachtaí
- Plural:
- tábhachtacha
- Pronunciation:
- “TAW-wakh-takh” /ˈt̪ˠɑːwəxt̪ˠəx/
What does “tábhachtach” mean?
“Tábhachtach” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- important
- Having great value, meaning or effect.Also: significant, major, key, vital.
2 other meanings: substantial or thrifty
- 2substantial
- Of considerable size, worth or consequence, such as a person of standing.Also: consequential, influential, weighty.
- 3thrifty
- Careful and hard-working with money and goods, especially in older or regional usage.Also: industrious, economical.
“Tábhachtach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is tábhachtach after scrúdú (examination, masculine), after tuairim (opinion, 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: tuairim thábhachtach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: scrúdú tábhachtach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, tábhachtacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: tuairimí tábhachtacha.
More important, most important, very important
Tá an tsláinte níos tábhachtaí ná an t-airgead. Health is more important than money.
| more important | níos tábhachtaí | in the past tense: ní ba thábhachtaí |
|---|---|---|
| most important | is tábhachtaí | in the past tense: ba thábhachtaí |
| as important as | chomh tábhachtach le | no change after chomh |
| very important | an-tábhachtach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too important | róthábhachtach | ró- lenites |
“Tábhachtach” 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.
Important in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for important?
The Irish for important is tábhachtach (pronounced “TAW-wakh-takh”). It comes after the noun: scrúdú tábhachtach, an important examination; tuairim thábhachtach, an important opinion.
How do you say more important and most important in Irish?
níos tábhachtaí is more important and is tábhachtaí is most important. In the past tense they become ní ba thábhachtaí and ba thábhachtaí.
Why does tábhachtach become thábhachtach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So tuairim thábhachtach (an important opinion) but scrúdú tábhachtach (an important examination), because scrúdú is masculine.
What is the plural of tábhachtach?
With a plural noun tábhachtach becomes tábhachtacha: scrúduithe tábhachtacha, tuairimí tábhachtacha.
How do you say very important in Irish?
an-tábhachtach. Too important is róthábhachtach, and as important as is chomh tábhachtach le.
Does tábhachtach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Tábhachtach can mean important, substantial or thrifty, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'it is important to' in Irish?
Use 'Tá sé tábhachtach' followed by a verbal noun phrase, for example 'Tá sé tábhachtach staidéar a dhéanamh'.
What is the noun related to tábhachtach?
The noun is 'tábhacht', importance, as in 'Níl aon tábhacht leis', it is of no importance.
