HeyRuaHow to say “masculine” in Irish
- Irish:
- mascalach
- English:
- masculine, masculine (grammar)
- Word type:
- adjective
- More masculine:
- níos mascalaí
- Most masculine:
- is mascalaí
- Plural:
- mascalacha
- Pronunciation:
- “MAS-ka-lakh” /ˈmˠasˠkəlˠəx/
What does “mascalach” mean?
“Mascalach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- masculine
- Having qualities traditionally thought typical of men; manly.Also: manly, virile, macho.
1 other meaning: masculine (grammar)
- 2masculine (grammar)
- Belonging to the masculine grammatical gender.Also: masculine, of masculine gender.
Other Irish adjectives for masculine: fearúil (manly), fireannach (male)
“Mascalach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is mascalach after fear (man, masculine), after bean (woman, 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: bean mhascalach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear mascalach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, mascalacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir mhascalacha; after other plurals it does not: mná mascalacha.
More masculine, most masculine, very masculine
Tá sé níos mascalaí ná a athair. He is more manly than his father.
| more masculine | níos mascalaí | in the past tense: ní ba mhascalaí |
|---|---|---|
| most masculine | is mascalaí | in the past tense: ba mhascalaí |
| as masculine as | chomh mascalach le | no change after chomh |
| very masculine | an-mhascalach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too masculine | rómhascalach | ró- lenites |
“Mascalach” 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.
Masculine in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for masculine?
The Irish for masculine is mascalach (pronounced “MAS-ka-lakh”). It comes after the noun: fear mascalach, a masculine man; bean mhascalach, a masculine woman.
How do you say more masculine and most masculine in Irish?
níos mascalaí is more masculine and is mascalaí is most masculine. In the past tense they become ní ba mhascalaí and ba mhascalaí.
Why does mascalach become mhascalach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean mhascalach (a masculine woman) but fear mascalach (a masculine man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of mascalach?
With a plural noun mascalach becomes mascalacha: fir mhascalacha, mná mascalacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very masculine in Irish?
an-mhascalach. Too masculine is rómhascalach, and as masculine as is chomh mascalach le.
Does mascalach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Mascalach can mean masculine or masculine (grammar), depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'mascalach' and 'firinscneach'?
In grammar, 'firinscneach' is the usual standard word for masculine gender, while 'mascalach' is also used, especially for manly qualities. 'Fearúil' is the common everyday word for manly.
