HeyRuaHow to say “northern” in Irish
- Irish:
- tuaisceartach
- English:
- northern, awkward
- Word type:
- adjective
- More northern:
- níos tuaisceartaí
- Most northern:
- is tuaisceartaí
- Plural:
- tuaisceartacha
- Pronunciation:
- “TOO-ash-kar-tukh” /ˈt̪ˠuəʃcəɾˠt̪ˠəx/
What does “tuaisceartach” mean?
“Tuaisceartach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- northern
- Belonging to, situated in or coming from the north.Also: north, boreal, northerly.
1 other meaning: awkward
- 2awkward
- Of a person: clumsy or awkward in manner or movement.Also: clumsy, ungainly.
The same spelling has its own page as:
“Tuaisceartach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is tuaisceartach after ceantar (area, masculine), after tír (country, 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: tír thuaisceartach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: ceantar tuaisceartach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, tuaisceartacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: ceantair thuaisceartacha; after other plurals it does not: tíortha tuaisceartacha.
More northern, most northern, very northern
Tá an baile seo níos tuaisceartaí ná Doire. This town is further north than Derry.
| more northern | níos tuaisceartaí | in the past tense: ní ba thuaisceartaí |
|---|---|---|
| most northern | is tuaisceartaí | in the past tense: ba thuaisceartaí |
| as northern as | chomh tuaisceartach le | no change after chomh |
| very northern | an-tuaisceartach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too northern | róthuaisceartach | ró- lenites |
“Tuaisceartach” 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.
Northern in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for northern?
The Irish for northern is tuaisceartach (pronounced “TOO-ash-kar-tukh”). It comes after the noun: ceantar tuaisceartach, a northern area; tír thuaisceartach, a northern country.
How do you say more northern and most northern in Irish?
níos tuaisceartaí is more northern and is tuaisceartaí is most northern. In the past tense they become ní ba thuaisceartaí and ba thuaisceartaí.
Why does tuaisceartach become thuaisceartach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So tír thuaisceartach (a northern country) but ceantar tuaisceartach (a northern area), because ceantar is masculine.
What is the plural of tuaisceartach?
With a plural noun tuaisceartach becomes tuaisceartacha: ceantair thuaisceartacha, tíortha tuaisceartacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very northern in Irish?
an-tuaisceartach. Too northern is róthuaisceartach, and as northern as is chomh tuaisceartach le.
Does tuaisceartach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Tuaisceartach can mean northern or awkward, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'tuaisceartach' and 'thuaidh'?
'Thuaidh' is used in fixed names and directions, as in 'an Cóiré Thuaidh' (North Korea) or 'an Mol Thuaidh' (the North Pole), while 'tuaisceartach' is a general adjective meaning northern, as in 'ceantar tuaisceartach'.
