HeyRuaHow to say “lost” in Irish
- Irish:
- caillte
- English:
- lost, dead, ruined, perishing
- Word type:
- adjective
- More lost:
- níos caillte
- Most lost:
- is caillte
- Pronunciation:
- “KAL-cha” /ˈkalʲtʲə/
What does “caillte” mean?
“Caillte” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- lost
- No longer had or found; missing or unable to find the way.Also: missing, mislaid.
3 other meanings: dead or ruined or perishing
- 2dead
- Having died; deceased (used especially in 'tá sé caillte').Also: deceased, passed away.
- 3ruined
- Badly off, done for, or in a terrible state.Also: done for, wretched.
- 4perishing
- Suffering badly from cold or hunger, as in 'caillte leis an bhfuacht'.Also: frozen, starving.
“Caillte” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is caillte after madra (dog, masculine), after eochair (key, 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: eochair chaillte. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: madra caillte.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, caillte. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: eochracha caillte.
More lost, most lost, very lost
| more lost | níos caillte | in the past tense: ní ba chaillte |
|---|---|---|
| most lost | is caillte | in the past tense: ba chaillte |
| as lost as | chomh caillte le | no change after chomh |
| very lost | an-chaillte | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too lost | róchaillte | ró- lenites |
“Caillte” in a sentence: Irish examples
With a masculine noun, a feminine noun, a plural, a comparison and on its own.
Phrases with caillte: Tá mé caillte (I'm lost)
Other adjectives in Irish
More everyday Irish adjectives to learn next.
Phrases with “caillte”
Lost in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for lost?
The Irish for lost is caillte (pronounced “KAL-cha”). It comes after the noun: madra caillte, a lost dog; eochair chaillte, a lost key.
How do you say more lost and most lost in Irish?
níos caillte is more lost and is caillte is most lost. In the past tense they become ní ba chaillte and ba chaillte.
Why does caillte become chaillte?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So eochair chaillte (a lost key) but madra caillte (a lost dog), because madra is masculine.
How do you say very lost in Irish?
an-chaillte. Too lost is róchaillte, and as lost as is chomh caillte le.
Does caillte have more than one meaning?
Yes. Caillte can mean lost, dead, ruined or perishing, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'caillte' and 'marbh'?
'Marbh' is the plain word for dead, while 'caillte' is the gentler, more usual way to say someone has died: 'Tá sí caillte' means 'She has passed away'.
How do I say I am lost?
Say 'Tá mé caillte' or 'Chuaigh mé amú'.
