HeyRuaHow to say “likely” in Irish
- Irish:
- dóchúil
- English:
- likely, promising
- Word type:
- adjective
- More likely:
- níos dóchúla
- Most likely:
- is dóchúla
- Plural:
- dóchúla
- Pronunciation:
- “DOH-khool” /ˈd̪ˠoːxuːlʲ/
What does “dóchúil” mean?
“Dóchúil” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- likely
- Expected to happen or to be true.Also: probable, liable, expected.
1 other meaning: promising
- 2promising
- Showing signs of future success or good quality.Also: hopeful, fine-looking.
“Dóchúil” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is dóchúil after toradh (fruit, masculine), after tuairim (opinion, 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: tuairim dhóchúil. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: toradh dóchúil.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, dóchúla. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: tuairimí dóchúla.
More likely, most likely, very likely
| more likely | níos dóchúla | in the past tense: ní ba dhóchúla |
|---|---|---|
| most likely | is dóchúla | in the past tense: ba dhóchúla |
| as likely as | chomh dóchúil le | no change after chomh |
| very likely | an-dóchúil | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too likely | ródhóchúil | ró- lenites |
“Dóchúil” 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.
Likely in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for likely?
The Irish for likely is dóchúil (pronounced “DOH-khool”). It comes after the noun: toradh dóchúil, a likely fruit; tuairim dhóchúil, a likely opinion.
How do you say more likely and most likely in Irish?
níos dóchúla is more likely and is dóchúla is most likely. In the past tense they become ní ba dhóchúla and ba dhóchúla.
Why does dóchúil become dhóchúil?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So tuairim dhóchúil (a likely opinion) but toradh dóchúil (a likely fruit), because toradh is masculine.
What is the plural of dóchúil?
With a plural noun dóchúil becomes dóchúla: torthaí dóchúla, tuairimí dóchúla.
How do you say very likely in Irish?
an-dóchúil. Too likely is ródhóchúil, and as likely as is chomh dóchúil le.
Does dóchúil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Dóchúil can mean likely or promising, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'it is likely that' with dóchúil?
Use 'is dóchúil go' followed by the dependent verb form, for example 'Is dóchúil go mbeidh sé ann'. The phrase 'is dócha go' is a very common everyday alternative.
What is the opposite of dóchúil?
The opposite is 'éadóchúil', meaning unlikely or improbable.
