HeyRuaHow to say “lasting” in Irish
- Irish:
- marthanach
- English:
- lasting, living
- Word type:
- adjective
- More lasting:
- níos marthanaí
- Most lasting:
- is marthanaí
- Plural:
- marthanacha
- Pronunciation:
- “MAR-han-ukh” /ˈmˠaɾˠhənˠəx/
What does “marthanach” mean?
“Marthanach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- lasting
- Continuing to exist for a long time or for ever.Also: enduring, permanent, everlasting, durable.
1 other meaning: living
- 2living
- Alive or still in existence, especially of a tradition or language.Also: surviving, extant.
Other Irish adjectives for lasting: buan (permanent)
“Marthanach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is marthanach after fear (man, masculine), after cuimhne (memory, 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: cuimhne mharthanach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear marthanach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, marthanacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir mharthanacha; after other plurals it does not: cuimhní marthanacha.
More lasting, most lasting, very lasting
Tá an t-ábhar seo níos marthanaí ná an ceann eile. This material is more durable than the other one.
| more lasting | níos marthanaí | in the past tense: ní ba mharthanaí |
|---|---|---|
| most lasting | is marthanaí | in the past tense: ba mharthanaí |
| as lasting as | chomh marthanach le | no change after chomh |
| very lasting | an-mharthanach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too lasting | rómharthanach | ró- lenites |
“Marthanach” 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.
Lasting in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for lasting?
The Irish for lasting is marthanach (pronounced “MAR-han-ukh”). It comes after the noun: fear marthanach, a lasting man; cuimhne mharthanach, a lasting memory.
How do you say more lasting and most lasting in Irish?
níos marthanaí is more lasting and is marthanaí is most lasting. In the past tense they become ní ba mharthanaí and ba mharthanaí.
Why does marthanach become mharthanach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So cuimhne mharthanach (a lasting memory) but fear marthanach (a lasting man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of marthanach?
With a plural noun marthanach becomes marthanacha: fir mharthanacha, cuimhní marthanacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very lasting in Irish?
an-mharthanach. Too lasting is rómharthanach, and as lasting as is chomh marthanach le.
Does marthanach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Marthanach can mean lasting or living, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'marthanach' and 'buan'?
Both mean lasting, but 'buan' often suggests permanent or fixed, while 'marthanach' stresses enduring or surviving over time, as in 'síocháin mharthanach'.
