HeyRuaHow to say “positive” in Irish
- Irish:
- deimhneach
- English:
- positive, certain, positive (technical)
- Word type:
- adjective
- More positive:
- níos deimhní
- Most positive:
- is deimhní
- Plural:
- deimhneacha
- Pronunciation:
- “DEV-nyakh” /ˈdʲevʲnʲəx/
What does “deimhneach” mean?
“Deimhneach” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- positive
- Describes something that affirms, agrees or is constructive, the opposite of negative.Also: affirmative, constructive.
2 other meanings: certain or positive (technical)
- 2certain
- Sure or definite about something, with no doubt.Also: sure, definite, assured.
- 3positive (technical)
- Positive in the mathematical, electrical or medical sense, as in a positive number, charge or test result.Also: positive, plus.
Other Irish adjectives for positive: dearfach (positive)
“Deimhneach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is deimhneach 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 dheimhneach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: freagra deimhneach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, deimhneacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: tuairimí deimhneacha.
More positive, most positive, very positive
Tá sé níos deimhní faoin bplean anois. He is more positive about the plan now.
| more positive | níos deimhní | in the past tense: ní ba dheimhní |
|---|---|---|
| most positive | is deimhní | in the past tense: ba dheimhní |
| as positive as | chomh deimhneach le | no change after chomh |
| very positive | an-deimhneach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too positive | ródheimhneach | ró- lenites |
“Deimhneach” 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.
Positive in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for positive?
The Irish for positive is deimhneach (pronounced “DEV-nyakh”). It comes after the noun: freagra deimhneach, a positive answer; tuairim dheimhneach, a positive opinion.
How do you say more positive and most positive in Irish?
níos deimhní is more positive and is deimhní is most positive. In the past tense they become ní ba dheimhní and ba dheimhní.
Why does deimhneach become dheimhneach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So tuairim dheimhneach (a positive opinion) but freagra deimhneach (a positive answer), because freagra is masculine.
What is the plural of deimhneach?
With a plural noun deimhneach becomes deimhneacha: freagraí deimhneacha, tuairimí deimhneacha.
How do you say very positive in Irish?
an-deimhneach. Too positive is ródheimhneach, and as positive as is chomh deimhneach le.
Does deimhneach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Deimhneach can mean positive, certain or positive (technical), depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the opposite of deimhneach?
The opposite is diúltach, as in freagra diúltach, a negative answer.
How is deimhneach different from dearfach?
Both can mean positive; dearfach is often preferred for a positive attitude, while deimhneach is common for answers, test results and numbers.
