HeyRuaHow to say “sentimental” in Irish
- Irish:
- maoithneach
- English:
- sentimental, tender-hearted
- Word type:
- adjective
- More sentimental:
- níos maoithní
- Most sentimental:
- is maoithní
- Plural:
- maoithneacha
- Pronunciation:
- “MWEE-hnyakh” /ˈmˠiːhn̠ʲəx/
What does “maoithneach” mean?
“Maoithneach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- sentimental
- Full of tender, emotional or nostalgic feelings, sometimes too much so.Also: emotional, soppy, maudlin, nostalgic.
1 other meaning: tender-hearted
- 2tender-hearted
- Easily moved to feeling and sympathy.Also: sensitive, soft-hearted.
Other Irish adjectives for sentimental: rómánsúil (romantic)
“Maoithneach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is maoithneach after amhrán (song, masculine), after bean (woman, 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: bean mhaoithneach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: amhrán maoithneach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, maoithneacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: amhráin mhaoithneacha; after other plurals it does not: mná maoithneacha.
More sentimental, most sentimental, very sentimental
Tá sé níos maoithní ná a dheartháir. He is more sentimental than his brother.
| more sentimental | níos maoithní | in the past tense: ní ba mhaoithní |
|---|---|---|
| most sentimental | is maoithní | in the past tense: ba mhaoithní |
| as sentimental as | chomh maoithneach le | no change after chomh |
| very sentimental | an-mhaoithneach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too sentimental | rómhaoithneach | ró- lenites |
“Maoithneach” 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.
Sentimental in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for sentimental?
The Irish for sentimental is maoithneach (pronounced “MWEE-hnyakh”). It comes after the noun: amhrán maoithneach, a sentimental song; bean mhaoithneach, a sentimental woman.
How do you say more sentimental and most sentimental in Irish?
níos maoithní is more sentimental and is maoithní is most sentimental. In the past tense they become ní ba mhaoithní and ba mhaoithní.
Why does maoithneach become mhaoithneach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean mhaoithneach (a sentimental woman) but amhrán maoithneach (a sentimental song), because amhrán is masculine.
What is the plural of maoithneach?
With a plural noun maoithneach becomes maoithneacha: amhráin mhaoithneacha, mná maoithneacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very sentimental in Irish?
an-mhaoithneach. Too sentimental is rómhaoithneach, and as sentimental as is chomh maoithneach le.
Does maoithneach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Maoithneach can mean sentimental or tender-hearted, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between maoithneach and mothúchánach?
Both can mean emotional, but maoithneach leans towards sentimental or soppy, while mothúchánach is the more general word for emotional.
