HeyRuaHow to say “negative” in Irish
- Irish:
- diúltach
- English:
- negative, refusing, negative (grammar, science)
- Word type:
- adjective
- More negative:
- níos diúltaí
- Most negative:
- is diúltaí
- Plural:
- diúltacha
- Pronunciation:
- “DYOOL-tukh” /ˈdʲuːl̪ˠt̪ˠəx/
What does “diúltach” mean?
“Diúltach” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- negative
- Expressing refusal, denial or a 'no', or having a pessimistic outlook.Also: pessimistic, unfavourable.
2 other meanings: refusing or negative (grammar, science)
- 2refusing
- Inclined to deny, refuse or reject things.Also: denying, unwilling.
- 3negative (grammar, science)
- Negative in grammar, mathematics or electricity, such as a negative sentence, number or charge.Also: negative, minus.
“Diúltach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is diúltach after freagra (answer, masculine), after tuairim (opinion, 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: tuairim dhiúltach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: freagra diúltach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, diúltacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: tuairimí diúltacha.
More negative, most negative, very negative
Tá sé níos diúltaí ná a dheartháir. He is more negative than his brother.
| more negative | níos diúltaí | in the past tense: ní ba dhiúltaí |
|---|---|---|
| most negative | is diúltaí | in the past tense: ba dhiúltaí |
| as negative as | chomh diúltach le | no change after chomh |
| very negative | an-diúltach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too negative | ródhiúltach | ró- lenites |
“Diúltach” 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.
Negative in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for negative?
The Irish for negative is diúltach (pronounced “DYOOL-tukh”). It comes after the noun: freagra diúltach, a negative answer; tuairim dhiúltach, a negative opinion.
How do you say more negative and most negative in Irish?
níos diúltaí is more negative and is diúltaí is most negative. In the past tense they become ní ba dhiúltaí and ba dhiúltaí.
Why does diúltach become dhiúltach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So tuairim dhiúltach (a negative opinion) but freagra diúltach (a negative answer), because freagra is masculine.
What is the plural of diúltach?
With a plural noun diúltach becomes diúltacha: freagraí diúltacha, tuairimí diúltacha.
How do you say very negative in Irish?
an-diúltach. Too negative is ródhiúltach, and as negative as is chomh diúltach le.
Does diúltach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Diúltach can mean negative, refusing or negative (grammar, science), depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the opposite of 'diúltach'?
The usual opposite is 'dearfach' (positive), as in 'freagra dearfach', a positive answer; 'deimhneach' is also used, especially in grammar.
