HeyRuaHow to say “lout” in Irish
- Irish:
- bodach
- English:
- lout, bigwig, male crab
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “BUD-ukh” /ˈbˠʊd̪ˠəx/
- Plural:
- bodaigh (louts)
- Genitive singular:
- bodaigh, an bhodaigh (e.g. caint an bhodaigh, the lout's talk)
- Genitive plural:
- bodach, na mbodach (e.g. béasa na mbodach, the manners of louts)
What does “bodach” mean?
“Bodach” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- lout
- A rough, ill-mannered or boorish man; a churl.Also: boor, churl, yokel, clown.
2 other meanings: bigwig or male crab
- 2bigwig
- A well-off or self-important person, often used of a wealthy farmer or a person of rank (often bodach mór).Also: upstart, wealthy farmer, big shot.
- 3male crab
- A male crab, as distinct from the female.Also: cock crab.
Other Irish words for lout: bastún (lout)
“Bodach” with the article
The plural of lout in Irish is bodaigh. Here is bodach after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Bodach” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using bodach, the Irish word for lout.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Lout in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for lout?
The Irish for lout is bodach (pronounced “BUD-ukh”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is bodaigh. Depending on context it can also mean bigwig or male crab.
How do you pronounce bodach in Irish?
Bodach is said like “BUD-ukh” (IPA /ˈbˠʊd̪ˠəx/).
What is the plural of lout in Irish?
The plural of bodach is bodaigh; with the article, na bodaigh means “the louts”. The genitive plural is bodach, as in béasa na mbodach (the manners of louts).
Does bodach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Bodach can mean lout, bigwig or male crab, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does bodach change to bhodach or mbodach?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) bodach becomes mo bhodach (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár mbodach (eclipsis).
Is 'bodach' always an insult?
Mostly yes: 'bodach' means a lout or churl, but 'bodach mór' can mean a wealthy or important person, a bigwig, often said with some irony.
