HeyRuaHow to say “punctual” in Irish
- Irish:
- poncúil
- English:
- punctual, exact
- Word type:
- adjective
- More punctual:
- níos poncúla
- Most punctual:
- is poncúla
- Plural:
- poncúla
- Pronunciation:
- “PUNK-ool” /ˈpˠʊŋkuːlʲ/
What does “poncúil” mean?
“Poncúil” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- punctual
- Arriving or doing something at the agreed time, not late.Also: on time, prompt, timely.
1 other meaning: exact
- 2exact
- Careful and precise about details.Also: precise, meticulous, particular.
“Poncúil” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is poncúil after fear (man, masculine), after traein (train, 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: traein phoncúil. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear poncúil.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, poncúla. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir phoncúla; after other plurals it does not: traenacha poncúla.
More punctual, most punctual, very punctual
Tá Máire níos poncúla ná a deartháir. Máire is more punctual than her brother.
| more punctual | níos poncúla | in the past tense: ní ba phoncúla |
|---|---|---|
| most punctual | is poncúla | in the past tense: ba phoncúla |
| as punctual as | chomh poncúil le | no change after chomh |
| very punctual | an-phoncúil | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too punctual | róphoncúil | ró- lenites |
“Poncúil” 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.
Punctual in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for punctual?
The Irish for punctual is poncúil (pronounced “PUNK-ool”). It comes after the noun: fear poncúil, a punctual man; traein phoncúil, a punctual train.
How do you say more punctual and most punctual in Irish?
níos poncúla is more punctual and is poncúla is most punctual. In the past tense they become ní ba phoncúla and ba phoncúla.
Why does poncúil become phoncúil?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So traein phoncúil (a punctual train) but fear poncúil (a punctual man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of poncúil?
With a plural noun poncúil becomes poncúla: fir phoncúla, traenacha poncúla. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very punctual in Irish?
an-phoncúil. Too punctual is róphoncúil, and as punctual as is chomh poncúil le.
Does poncúil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Poncúil can mean punctual or exact, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'on time' instead of 'punctual'?
Use 'in am', for example 'Bhí sé ann in am' means he was there on time; 'poncúil' describes a person or service that is habitually on time.
