HeyRuaHow to say “meek” in Irish
- Irish:
- ceansa
- English:
- meek, tame
- Word type:
- adjective
- Meeker:
- níos ceansa
- Meekest:
- is ceansa
- Pronunciation:
- “KYOWN-sa” /ˈcaun̪ˠsˠə/
What does “ceansa” mean?
“Ceansa” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- meek
- Quiet, gentle and mild in manner, not aggressive.Also: gentle, mild, docile.
1 other meaning: tame
- 2tame
- Of an animal: not wild, used to people.Also: docile, domesticated.
“Ceansa” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is ceansa after capall (horse, masculine), after bó (cow, 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: bó cheansa. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: capall ceansa.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, ceansa. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: capaill cheansa; after other plurals it does not: ba ceansa.
Meeker, meekest, very meek
Tá an madra seo níos ceansa ná an ceann eile. This dog is tamer than the other one.
| meeker | níos ceansa | in the past tense: ní ba cheansa |
|---|---|---|
| meekest | is ceansa | in the past tense: ba cheansa |
| as meek as | chomh ceansa le | no change after chomh |
| very meek | an-cheansa | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too meek | rócheansa | ró- lenites |
“Ceansa” 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.
Meek in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for meek?
The Irish for meek is ceansa (pronounced “KYOWN-sa”). It comes after the noun: capall ceansa, a meek horse; bó cheansa, a meek cow.
How do you say meeker and meekest in Irish?
níos ceansa is meeker and is ceansa is meekest. In the past tense they become ní ba cheansa and ba cheansa.
Why does ceansa become cheansa?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bó cheansa (a meek cow) but capall ceansa (a meek horse), because capall is masculine.
How do you say very meek in Irish?
an-cheansa. Too meek is rócheansa, and as meek as is chomh ceansa le.
Does ceansa have more than one meaning?
Yes. Ceansa can mean meek or tame, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the opposite of 'ceansa'?
For animals the usual opposite is 'fiáin' (wild); for people, something like 'borb' (rough, harsh).
