HeyRuaHow to say “lay” in Irish
- Irish:
- tuata
- English:
- lay, secular
- Word type:
- adjective
- More lay:
- níos tuata
- Most lay:
- is tuata
- Pronunciation:
- “TOO-uh-ta” /t̪ˠuət̪ˠə/
What does “tuata” mean?
“Tuata” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- lay
- Belonging to ordinary people rather than to the clergy.Also: non-clerical, layman's.
1 other meaning: secular
- 2secular
- Not religious or connected with the church.Also: temporal, worldly, non-religious.
“Tuata” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is tuata after duine (person, 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 thuata. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: duine tuata.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, tuata. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: girseacha tuata.
More lay, most lay, very lay
Tá an tsochaí níos tuata ná mar a bhí. Society is more secular than it was.
| more lay | níos tuata | in the past tense: ní ba thuata |
|---|---|---|
| most lay | is tuata | in the past tense: ba thuata |
| as lay as | chomh tuata le | no change after chomh |
| very lay | an-tuata | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too lay | róthuata | ró- lenites |
“Tuata” 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.
Lay in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for lay?
The Irish for lay is tuata (pronounced “TOO-uh-ta”). It comes after the noun: duine tuata, a lay person; girseach thuata, a lay girl.
How do you say more lay and most lay in Irish?
níos tuata is more lay and is tuata is most lay. In the past tense they become ní ba thuata and ba thuata.
Why does tuata become thuata?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So girseach thuata (a lay girl) but duine tuata (a lay person), because duine is masculine.
How do you say very lay in Irish?
an-tuata. Too lay is róthuata, and as lay as is chomh tuata le.
Does tuata have more than one meaning?
Yes. Tuata can mean lay or secular, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'tuata' and 'saolta'?
'Tuata' means lay or secular as opposed to clerical, as in 'duine tuata'. 'Saolta' means worldly or of this life, as in 'cúrsaí saolta'.
