HeyRuaHow to say “reluctant” in Irish
- Irish:
- drogallach
- English:
- reluctant, lazy
- Word type:
- adjective
- More reluctant:
- níos drogallaí
- Most reluctant:
- is drogallaí
- Plural:
- drogallacha
- Pronunciation:
- “DRUG-ah-lukh” /ˈd̪ˠɾˠɔɡəl̪ˠəx/
What does “drogallach” mean?
“Drogallach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- reluctant
- Not wanting to do something and slow to do it.Also: unwilling, loath, hesitant.
1 other meaning: lazy
- 2lazy
- Not keen to make an effort or to work.Also: sluggish, idle.
Other Irish adjectives for reluctant: leasc (reluctant)
“Drogallach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is drogallach after buachaill (boy, masculine), after girseach (girl, 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: girseach dhrogallach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: buachaill drogallach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, drogallacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: girseacha drogallacha.
More reluctant, most reluctant, very reluctant
Bhí sé níos drogallaí ná a dheartháir. He was more reluctant than his brother.
| more reluctant | níos drogallaí | in the past tense: ní ba dhrogallaí |
|---|---|---|
| most reluctant | is drogallaí | in the past tense: ba dhrogallaí |
| as reluctant as | chomh drogallach le | no change after chomh |
| very reluctant | an-drogallach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too reluctant | ródhrogallach | ró- lenites |
“Drogallach” 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.
Reluctant in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for reluctant?
The Irish for reluctant is drogallach (pronounced “DRUG-ah-lukh”). It comes after the noun: buachaill drogallach, a reluctant boy; girseach dhrogallach, a reluctant girl.
How do you say more reluctant and most reluctant in Irish?
níos drogallaí is more reluctant and is drogallaí is most reluctant. In the past tense they become ní ba dhrogallaí and ba dhrogallaí.
Why does drogallach become dhrogallach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So girseach dhrogallach (a reluctant girl) but buachaill drogallach (a reluctant boy), because buachaill is masculine.
What is the plural of drogallach?
With a plural noun drogallach becomes drogallacha: buachaillí drogallacha, girseacha drogallacha.
How do you say very reluctant in Irish?
an-drogallach. Too reluctant is ródhrogallach, and as reluctant as is chomh drogallach le.
Does drogallach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Drogallach can mean reluctant or lazy, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Which preposition goes with drogallach?
Use roimh: Tá sé drogallach roimh an obair, he is reluctant to do the work.
How is drogallach different from leisciúil?
Leisciúil means lazy in general, while drogallach stresses unwillingness to do a particular thing, from the noun drogall, reluctance.
