HeyRuaHow to say “native” in Irish
- Irish:
- dúchasach
- English:
- native, hereditary, innate
- Word type:
- adjective
- More native:
- níos dúchasaí
- Most native:
- is dúchasaí
- Plural:
- dúchasacha
- Pronunciation:
- “DOO-khuh-sukh” /ˈduːxəsˠəx/
What does “dúchasach” mean?
“Dúchasach” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- native
- Belonging to a place by birth or origin, not brought in from elsewhere.Also: indigenous, local, aboriginal.
2 other meanings: hereditary or innate
- 2hereditary
- Passed down from your ancestors or inherited by birth.Also: ancestral, inherited.
- 3innate
- Present in a person or thing naturally from the start.Also: inherent, natural, instinctive.
The same spelling has its own page as:
“Dúchasach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is dúchasach after crann (tree, masculine), after teanga (language, 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: teanga dhúchasach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: crann dúchasach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, dúchasacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: crainn dhúchasacha; after other plurals it does not: teangacha dúchasacha.
More native, most native, very native
| more native | níos dúchasaí | in the past tense: ní ba dhúchasaí |
|---|---|---|
| most native | is dúchasaí | in the past tense: ba dhúchasaí |
| as native as | chomh dúchasach le | no change after chomh |
| very native | an-dúchasach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too native | ródhúchasach | ró- lenites |
“Dúchasach” 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.
Native in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for native?
The Irish for native is dúchasach (pronounced “DOO-khuh-sukh”). It comes after the noun: crann dúchasach, a native tree; teanga dhúchasach, a native language.
How do you say more native and most native in Irish?
níos dúchasaí is more native and is dúchasaí is most native. In the past tense they become ní ba dhúchasaí and ba dhúchasaí.
Why does dúchasach become dhúchasach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So teanga dhúchasach (a native language) but crann dúchasach (a native tree), because crann is masculine.
What is the plural of dúchasach?
With a plural noun dúchasach becomes dúchasacha: crainn dhúchasacha, teangacha dúchasacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very native in Irish?
an-dúchasach. Too native is ródhúchasach, and as native as is chomh dúchasach le.
Does dúchasach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Dúchasach can mean native, hereditary or innate, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'a native speaker' in Irish?
Use 'cainteoir dúchasach', for example 'Is cainteoir dúchasach Gaeilge í'.
Which preposition goes with dúchasach for 'native to'?
Use 'do': 'Tá an planda seo dúchasach d'Éirinn' means this plant is native to Ireland.
