HeyRuaHow to say “inhospitable” in Irish
- Irish:
- doicheallach
- English:
- inhospitable, grudging, churlish
- Word type:
- adjective
- More inhospitable:
- níos doicheallaí
- Most inhospitable:
- is doicheallaí
- Plural:
- doicheallacha
- Pronunciation:
- “DUH-hyal-uhkh” /ˈdɔçəl̪ˠəx/
What does “doicheallach” mean?
“Doicheallach” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- inhospitable
- Unwelcoming and unfriendly towards visitors or strangers.Also: unwelcoming, unfriendly, cold, standoffish.
2 other meanings: grudging or churlish
- 2grudging
- Unwilling to give or do something, or doing it reluctantly.Also: unwilling, reluctant, begrudging.
- 3churlish
- Surly and ungracious in manner.Also: surly, sullen, ungracious.
“Doicheallach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is doicheallach after fear (man, masculine), after tír (country, 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: tír dhoicheallach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear doicheallach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, doicheallacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir dhoicheallacha; after other plurals it does not: tíortha doicheallacha.
More inhospitable, most inhospitable, very inhospitable
Bhí sé níos doicheallaí ná a dheartháir. He was more unfriendly than his brother.
| more inhospitable | níos doicheallaí | in the past tense: ní ba dhoicheallaí |
|---|---|---|
| most inhospitable | is doicheallaí | in the past tense: ba dhoicheallaí |
| as inhospitable as | chomh doicheallach le | no change after chomh |
| very inhospitable | an-doicheallach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too inhospitable | ródhoicheallach | ró- lenites |
“Doicheallach” 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.
Inhospitable in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for inhospitable?
The Irish for inhospitable is doicheallach (pronounced “DUH-hyal-uhkh”). It comes after the noun: fear doicheallach, an inhospitable man; tír dhoicheallach, an inhospitable country.
How do you say more inhospitable and most inhospitable in Irish?
níos doicheallaí is more inhospitable and is doicheallaí is most inhospitable. In the past tense they become ní ba dhoicheallaí and ba dhoicheallaí.
Why does doicheallach become dhoicheallach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So tír dhoicheallach (an inhospitable country) but fear doicheallach (an inhospitable man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of doicheallach?
With a plural noun doicheallach becomes doicheallacha: fir dhoicheallacha, tíortha doicheallacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very inhospitable in Irish?
an-doicheallach. Too inhospitable is ródhoicheallach, and as inhospitable as is chomh doicheallach le.
Does doicheallach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Doicheallach can mean inhospitable, grudging or churlish, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Which preposition goes with doicheallach?
Use roimh for being unwelcoming to someone: bhí sé doicheallach romham, he was unwelcoming to me.
What is the opposite of doicheallach?
The usual opposite is fáilteach, welcoming, or flaithiúil, generous.
