HeyRuaHow to say “primary” in Irish
- Irish:
- príomhúil
- English:
- primary, prime
- Word type:
- adjective
- More primary:
- níos príomhúla
- Most primary:
- is príomhúla
- Plural:
- príomhúla
- Pronunciation:
- “PREEV-ool” /pʲɾʲiːvuːlʲ/
What does “príomhúil” mean?
“Príomhúil” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- primary
- First or most important in rank or order.Also: main, chief, principal, prime.
1 other meaning: prime
- 2prime
- In mathematics, describing a number divisible only by itself and one.
“Príomhúil” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is príomhúil after cuspóir (objective, masculine), after aidhm (aim, 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: aidhm phríomhúil. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: cuspóir príomhúil.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, príomhúla. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: aidhmeanna príomhúla.
More primary, most primary, very primary
Tá an fhadhb seo níos príomhúla ná an ceann eile. This problem is more important than the other one.
| more primary | níos príomhúla | in the past tense: ní ba phríomhúla |
|---|---|---|
| most primary | is príomhúla | in the past tense: ba phríomhúla |
| as primary as | chomh príomhúil le | no change after chomh |
| very primary | an-phríomhúil | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too primary | róphríomhúil | ró- lenites |
“Príomhúil” 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.
Primary in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for primary?
The Irish for primary is príomhúil (pronounced “PREEV-ool”). It comes after the noun: cuspóir príomhúil, a primary objective; aidhm phríomhúil, a primary aim.
How do you say more primary and most primary in Irish?
níos príomhúla is more primary and is príomhúla is most primary. In the past tense they become ní ba phríomhúla and ba phríomhúla.
Why does príomhúil become phríomhúil?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So aidhm phríomhúil (a primary aim) but cuspóir príomhúil (a primary objective), because cuspóir is masculine.
What is the plural of príomhúil?
With a plural noun príomhúil becomes príomhúla: cuspóirí príomhúla, aidhmeanna príomhúla.
How do you say very primary in Irish?
an-phríomhúil. Too primary is róphríomhúil, and as primary as is chomh príomhúil le.
Does príomhúil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Príomhúil can mean primary or prime, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'príomhúil' and the prefix 'príomh-'?
The prefix 'príomh-' is far more common and attaches to the noun, as in 'príomhchathair' (capital city), while 'príomhúil' is a separate adjective placed after the noun, as in 'uimhir phríomhúil'.
