HeyRuaHow to say “neat” in Irish
- Irish:
- feistiúil
- English:
- neat, well-dressed, well-secured
- Word type:
- adjective
- Neater:
- níos feistiúla
- Neatest:
- is feistiúla
- Plural:
- feistiúla
- Pronunciation:
- “FESH-tool” /ˈfʲɛʃtʲuːlʲ/
What does “feistiúil” mean?
“Feistiúil” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- neat
- Tidy, well arranged and in good order.Also: tidy, well-arranged, orderly.
2 other meanings: well-dressed or well-secured
- 2well-dressed
- Dressed smartly and looking well turned out.Also: smart, spruce, dapper.
- 3well-secured
- Firmly fixed or fastened in place.Also: secure, firmly fixed.
Other Irish adjectives for neat: slachtmhar (neat), néata (neat), pointeáilte (neat), innealta (neat)
“Feistiúil” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is feistiúil after teach (house, masculine), after cistin (kitchen, 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: cistin fheistiúil. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: teach feistiúil.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, feistiúla. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: cistineacha feistiúla.
Neater, neatest, very neat
Tá a sheomra níos feistiúla ná mo sheomra féin. His room is tidier than my own room.
| neater | níos feistiúla | in the past tense: ní b'fheistiúla |
|---|---|---|
| neatest | is feistiúla | in the past tense: ab fheistiúla |
| as neat as | chomh feistiúil le | no change after chomh |
| very neat | an-fheistiúil | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too neat | rófheistiúil | ró- lenites |
“Feistiúil” 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.
Neat in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for neat?
The Irish for neat is feistiúil (pronounced “FESH-tool”). It comes after the noun: teach feistiúil, a neat house; cistin fheistiúil, a neat kitchen.
How do you say neater and neatest in Irish?
níos feistiúla is neater and is feistiúla is neatest. In the past tense they become ní b'fheistiúla and ab fheistiúla.
Why does feistiúil become fheistiúil?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So cistin fheistiúil (a neat kitchen) but teach feistiúil (a neat house), because teach is masculine.
What is the plural of feistiúil?
With a plural noun feistiúil becomes feistiúla: tithe feistiúla, cistineacha feistiúla.
How do you say very neat in Irish?
an-fheistiúil. Too neat is rófheistiúil, and as neat as is chomh feistiúil le.
Does feistiúil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Feistiúil can mean neat, well-dressed or well-secured, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is 'feistiúil' different from 'néata'?
Both mean neat or tidy, but 'feistiúil' also suggests being well fitted out or well dressed, while 'néata' is mainly about neatness. It is related to the verb 'feistigh', to fit out or arrange.
