HeyRuaHow to say “naive” in Irish
- Irish:
- saonta
- English:
- naive, simple-minded, artless
- Word type:
- adjective
- More naive:
- níos saonta
- Most naive:
- is saonta
- Pronunciation:
- “SAYN-ta” /ˈsˠeːn̪ˠt̪ˠə/
What does “saonta” mean?
“Saonta” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- naive
- Too trusting and lacking experience of how the world works.Also: gullible, credulous, easily fooled.
2 other meanings: simple-minded or artless
- 2simple-minded
- Simple and unsophisticated in thinking.Also: simple, unsophisticated.
- 3artless
- Open and innocent, without any trickery.Also: ingenuous, innocent, guileless.
Other Irish adjectives for naive: soineanta (innocent)
“Saonta” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is saonta after buachaill (boy, masculine), after girseach (girl, 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: girseach shaonta. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: buachaill saonta.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, saonta. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: girseacha saonta.
More naive, most naive, very naive
Tá sí níos saonta ná a deirfiúr. She is more naive than her sister.
| more naive | níos saonta | in the past tense: ní ba shaonta |
|---|---|---|
| most naive | is saonta | in the past tense: ba shaonta |
| as naive as | chomh saonta le | no change after chomh |
| very naive | an-saonta | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too naive | róshaonta | ró- lenites |
“Saonta” 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.
Naive in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for naive?
The Irish for naive is saonta (pronounced “SAYN-ta”). It comes after the noun: buachaill saonta, a naive boy; girseach shaonta, a naive girl.
How do you say more naive and most naive in Irish?
níos saonta is more naive and is saonta is most naive. In the past tense they become ní ba shaonta and ba shaonta.
Why does saonta become shaonta?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So girseach shaonta (a naive girl) but buachaill saonta (a naive boy), because buachaill is masculine.
How do you say very naive in Irish?
an-saonta. Too naive is róshaonta, and as naive as is chomh saonta le.
Does saonta have more than one meaning?
Yes. Saonta can mean naive, simple-minded or artless, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'saonta' and 'soineanta'?
'Saonta' stresses being gullible or easily fooled, while 'soineanta' leans more towards innocent and good-natured.
