HeyRuaHow to say “nice” in Irish
- Irish:
- deas
- English:
- nice, right, handy
- Word type:
- adjective
- Nicer:
- níos deise
- Nicest:
- is deise
- Plural:
- deasa
- Pronunciation:
- “jass” /dʲasˠ/
What does “deas” mean?
“Deas” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- nice
- Pleasant, attractive or agreeable.Also: pleasant, lovely, pretty, attractive.
2 other meanings: right or handy
- 2right
- On the right-hand side, the opposite of left.Also: right-hand.
- 3handy
- Neat, deft or convenient in use.Also: neat, deft, convenient.
“Deas” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is deas after teach (house, 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 dheas. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: teach deas.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, deasa. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: girseacha deasa.
Nicer, nicest, very nice
Tá an gúna seo níos deise ná an ceann eile. This dress is nicer than the other one.
| nicer | níos deise | in the past tense: ní ba dheise |
|---|---|---|
| nicest | is deise | in the past tense: ba dheise |
| as nice as | chomh deas le | no change after chomh |
| very nice | an-deas | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too nice | ródheas | ró- lenites |
“Deas” in a sentence: Irish examples
With a masculine noun, a feminine noun, a plural, a comparison and on its own.
Phrases with deas: Is deas bualadh leat (nice to meet you), Bíodh lá deas agat (have a nice day)
Other adjectives in Irish
More everyday Irish adjectives to learn next.
Phrases with “deas”
Nice in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for nice?
The Irish for nice is deas (pronounced “jass”). It comes after the noun: teach deas, a nice house; girseach dheas, a nice girl.
How do you say nicer and nicest in Irish?
níos deise is nicer and is deise is nicest. In the past tense they become ní ba dheise and ba dheise.
Why does deas become dheas?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So girseach dheas (a nice girl) but teach deas (a nice house), because teach is masculine.
What is the plural of deas?
With a plural noun deas becomes deasa: tithe deasa, girseacha deasa.
How do you say very nice in Irish?
an-deas. Too nice is ródheas, and as nice as is chomh deas le.
Does deas have more than one meaning?
Yes. Deas can mean nice, right or handy, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'on the right' in Irish?
Use 'ar dheis' for 'on the right' and 'ar chlé' for 'on the left'; 'an lámh dheas' is 'the right hand'.
Is 'deas' used with 'liom' like 'maith'?
Not usually; for liking say 'Is maith liom é', but 'Is deas é' means 'It is nice'.
