HeyRuaHow to say “lame” in Irish
- Irish:
- bacach
- English:
- lame, poor
- Word type:
- adjective
- Lamer:
- níos bacaí
- Lamest:
- is bacaí
- Plural:
- bacacha
- Pronunciation:
- “BOCK-uhkh” /ˈbˠakəx/
What does “bacach” mean?
“Bacach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- lame
- Walking with difficulty because of an injured or weak leg.Also: limping, crippled, halting.
1 other meaning: poor
- 2poor
- Weak, unconvincing or of poor quality, like a lame excuse or halting speech.Also: lame, weak, unconvincing, halting, feeble.
“Bacach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is bacach after capall (horse, masculine), after cos (foot, 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: cos bhacach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: capall bacach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, bacacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: capaill bhacacha; after other plurals it does not: cosa bacacha.
Lamer, lamest, very lame
Tá an madra níos bacaí inniu ná inné. The dog is lamer today than yesterday.
| lamer | níos bacaí | in the past tense: ní ba bhacaí |
|---|---|---|
| lamest | is bacaí | in the past tense: ba bhacaí |
| as lame as | chomh bacach le | no change after chomh |
| very lame | an-bhacach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too lame | róbhacach | ró- lenites |
“Bacach” 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.
Lame in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for lame?
The Irish for lame is bacach (pronounced “BOCK-uhkh”). It comes after the noun: capall bacach, a lame horse; cos bhacach, a lame foot.
How do you say lamer and lamest in Irish?
níos bacaí is lamer and is bacaí is lamest. In the past tense they become ní ba bhacaí and ba bhacaí.
Why does bacach become bhacach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So cos bhacach (a lame foot) but capall bacach (a lame horse), because capall is masculine.
What is the plural of bacach?
With a plural noun bacach becomes bacacha: capaill bhacacha, cosa bacacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very lame in Irish?
an-bhacach. Too lame is róbhacach, and as lame as is chomh bacach le.
Does bacach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Bacach can mean lame or poor, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Is 'bacach' also a noun?
Yes, 'bacach' as a noun means a lame person or, traditionally, a beggar, as in 'bacach bóthair'.
How do I say someone speaks broken Irish?
You can say 'Tá Gaeilge bhacach aige', meaning he has broken or halting Irish.
