HeyRuaHow to say “inflexible” in Irish
- Irish:
- dolúbtha
- English:
- inflexible, indeclinable
- Word type:
- adjective
- More inflexible:
- níos dolúbtha
- Most inflexible:
- is dolúbtha
- Pronunciation:
- “duh-LOOB-ha” /dˠɔˈl̪ˠuːbˠə/
What does “dolúbtha” mean?
“Dolúbtha” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- inflexible
- Not able to bend, or not willing to change a rule, opinion or plan.Also: rigid, unbending, stiff, unyielding.
1 other meaning: indeclinable
- 2indeclinable
- In grammar, describes a word whose form does not change for case or number.Also: invariable, uninflected.
“Dolúbtha” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is dolúbtha 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 dholúbtha. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear dolúbtha.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, dolúbtha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir dholúbtha; after other plurals it does not: girseacha dolúbtha.
More inflexible, most inflexible, very inflexible
Tá sé níos dolúbtha ná a athair. He is more inflexible than his father.
| more inflexible | níos dolúbtha | in the past tense: ní ba dholúbtha |
|---|---|---|
| most inflexible | is dolúbtha | in the past tense: ba dholúbtha |
| as inflexible as | chomh dolúbtha le | no change after chomh |
| very inflexible | an-dolúbtha | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too inflexible | ródholúbtha | ró- lenites |
“Dolúbtha” 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.
Inflexible in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for inflexible?
The Irish for inflexible is dolúbtha (pronounced “duh-LOOB-ha”). It comes after the noun: fear dolúbtha, an inflexible man; girseach dholúbtha, an inflexible girl.
How do you say more inflexible and most inflexible in Irish?
níos dolúbtha is more inflexible and is dolúbtha is most inflexible. In the past tense they become ní ba dholúbtha and ba dholúbtha.
Why does dolúbtha become dholúbtha?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So girseach dholúbtha (an inflexible girl) but fear dolúbtha (an inflexible man), because fear is masculine.
How do you say very inflexible in Irish?
an-dolúbtha. Too inflexible is ródholúbtha, and as inflexible as is chomh dolúbtha le.
Does dolúbtha have more than one meaning?
Yes. Dolúbtha can mean inflexible or indeclinable, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the opposite of 'dolúbtha'?
The opposite is 'solúbtha', meaning flexible. Both come from 'lúb', to bend.
