HeyRuaHow to say “punitive” in Irish
- Irish:
- pionósach
- English:
- punitive, severe
- Word type:
- adjective
- More punitive:
- níos pionósaí
- Most punitive:
- is pionósaí
- Plural:
- pionósacha
- Pronunciation:
- “PIN-oh-sakh” /ˈpʲɪnˠoːsˠəx/
What does “pionósach” mean?
“Pionósach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- punitive
- Intended to punish, or involving punishment.Also: penal, punishing.
1 other meaning: severe
- 2severe
- Very harsh or heavy, as if meant to punish.Also: harsh, crippling, onerous.
“Pionósach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is pionósach after fear (man, masculine), after cáin (tax, 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: cáin phionósach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear pionósach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, pionósacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir phionósacha; after other plurals it does not: cánacha pionósacha.
More punitive, most punitive, very punitive
Tá an cháin nua níos pionósaí ná an seancháin. The new tax is more punitive than the old one.
| more punitive | níos pionósaí | in the past tense: ní ba phionósaí |
|---|---|---|
| most punitive | is pionósaí | in the past tense: ba phionósaí |
| as punitive as | chomh pionósach le | no change after chomh |
| very punitive | an-phionósach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too punitive | róphionósach | ró- lenites |
“Pionósach” 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.
Punitive in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for punitive?
The Irish for punitive is pionósach (pronounced “PIN-oh-sakh”). It comes after the noun: fear pionósach, a punitive man; cáin phionósach, a punitive tax.
How do you say more punitive and most punitive in Irish?
níos pionósaí is more punitive and is pionósaí is most punitive. In the past tense they become ní ba phionósaí and ba phionósaí.
Why does pionósach become phionósach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So cáin phionósach (a punitive tax) but fear pionósach (a punitive man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of pionósach?
With a plural noun pionósach becomes pionósacha: fir phionósacha, cánacha pionósacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very punitive in Irish?
an-phionósach. Too punitive is róphionósach, and as punitive as is chomh pionósach le.
Does pionósach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Pionósach can mean punitive or severe, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Is 'pionósach' used for the historical Penal Laws?
The usual term is 'na Péindlíthe', though 'dlíthe pionósacha' also describes penal or punitive laws in general.
