HeyRuaHow to say “random” in Irish
- Irish:
- fánach
- English:
- random, pointless, trivial, wandering
- Word type:
- adjective
- More random:
- níos fánaí
- Most random:
- is fánaí
- Plural:
- fánacha
- Pronunciation:
- “FAW-nukh” /ˈfˠaːnˠəx/
What does “fánach” mean?
“Fánach” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- random
- Happening or chosen by chance, here and there, without any plan.Also: odd, occasional, haphazard, casual.
3 other meanings: pointless or trivial or wandering
- 2pointless
- Having no real purpose or hope of success; futile.Also: futile, vain, aimless.
- 3trivial
- Of little importance or value.Also: trifling, insignificant, minor.
- 4wandering
- Roaming about without a fixed home or direction.Also: vagrant, roving, straying.
“Fánach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is fánach after smaoineamh (thought, masculine), after ceist (question, 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: ceist fhánach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: smaoineamh fánach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, fánacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: ceisteanna fánacha.
More random, most random, very random
| more random | níos fánaí | in the past tense: ní b'fhánaí |
|---|---|---|
| most random | is fánaí | in the past tense: ab fhánaí |
| as random as | chomh fánach le | no change after chomh |
| very random | an-fhánach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too random | rófhánach | ró- lenites |
“Fánach” 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.
Random in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for random?
The Irish for random is fánach (pronounced “FAW-nukh”). It comes after the noun: smaoineamh fánach, a random thought; ceist fhánach, a random question.
How do you say more random and most random in Irish?
níos fánaí is more random and is fánaí is most random. In the past tense they become ní b'fhánaí and ab fhánaí.
Why does fánach become fhánach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So ceist fhánach (a random question) but smaoineamh fánach (a random thought), because smaoineamh is masculine.
What is the plural of fánach?
With a plural noun fánach becomes fánacha: smaointe fánacha, ceisteanna fánacha.
How do you say very random in Irish?
an-fhánach. Too random is rófhánach, and as random as is chomh fánach le.
Does fánach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Fánach can mean random, pointless, trivial or wandering, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What does 'is fánach duit' mean?
'Is fánach duit é a dhéanamh' means it is pointless for you to do it, there is no use in trying.
Is 'fánach' the same as 'randamach'?
'Randamach' is a technical word for random in statistics or computing, while 'fánach' means random in the everyday sense of odd or occasional, as in 'corrbhlag fánach'.
