HeyRuaHow to say “sad” in Irish
- Irish:
- dubhach
- English:
- sad, gloomy
- Word type:
- adjective
- Sadder:
- níos dubhaí
- Saddest:
- is dubhaí
- Plural:
- dubhacha
- Pronunciation:
- “DUH-wukh” /ˈd̪ˠʊwəx/
What does “dubhach” mean?
“Dubhach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- sad
- Feeling or showing sorrow, low in spirits.Also: sorrowful, dejected, downcast, melancholy.
1 other meaning: gloomy
- 2gloomy
- Dark and dismal, causing a sad or depressed feeling.Also: dismal, dreary, mournful.
Other Irish adjectives for sad: brónach (sad)
“Dubhach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is dubhach after fear (man, 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 dhubhach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear dubhach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, dubhacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir dhubhacha; after other plurals it does not: girseacha dubhacha.
Sadder, saddest, very sad
Bhí sí níos dubhaí inniu ná inné. She was sadder today than yesterday.
| sadder | níos dubhaí | in the past tense: ní ba dhubhaí |
|---|---|---|
| saddest | is dubhaí | in the past tense: ba dhubhaí |
| as sad as | chomh dubhach le | no change after chomh |
| very sad | an-dubhach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too sad | ródhubhach | ró- lenites |
“Dubhach” 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.
Sad in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for sad?
The Irish for sad is dubhach (pronounced “DUH-wukh”). It comes after the noun: fear dubhach, a sad man; girseach dhubhach, a sad girl.
How do you say sadder and saddest in Irish?
níos dubhaí is sadder and is dubhaí is saddest. In the past tense they become ní ba dhubhaí and ba dhubhaí.
Why does dubhach become dhubhach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So girseach dhubhach (a sad girl) but fear dubhach (a sad man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of dubhach?
With a plural noun dubhach becomes dubhacha: fir dhubhacha, girseacha dubhacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very sad in Irish?
an-dubhach. Too sad is ródhubhach, and as sad as is chomh dubhach le.
Does dubhach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Dubhach can mean sad or gloomy, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between dubhach and brónach?
Both mean sad, but 'brónach' is the everyday word, while 'dubhach' suggests deeper gloom or melancholy and is more literary.
Is dubhach related to dubh?
Yes, 'dubhach' comes from 'dubh' (black), so it carries the idea of a dark, gloomy mood.
