HeyRuaHow to say “sick” in Irish
- Irish:
- tinn
- English:
- sick, sore
- Word type:
- adjective
- Sicker:
- níos tinne
- Sickest:
- is tinne
- Plural:
- tinne
- Pronunciation:
- “tinn” /tʲiːɲ/
What does “tinn” mean?
“Tinn” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- sick
- Not well in body; suffering from an illness.Also: ill, unwell, poorly.
“Tinn” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is tinn after páiste (child, 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 thinn. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: páiste tinn.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, tinne. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: girseacha tinne.
Sicker, sickest, very sick
Bhí sé níos tinne inniu ná inné. He was sicker today than yesterday.
| sicker | níos tinne | in the past tense: ní ba thinne |
|---|---|---|
| sickest | is tinne | in the past tense: ba thinne |
| as sick as | chomh tinn le | no change after chomh |
| very sick | an-tinn | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too sick | róthinn | ró- lenites |
“Tinn” in a sentence: Irish examples
With a masculine noun, a feminine noun, a plural, a comparison and on its own.
Phrases with tinn: Táim tinn (I'm sick)
Other adjectives in Irish
More everyday Irish adjectives to learn next.
Phrases with “tinn”
Sick in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for sick?
The Irish for sick is tinn (pronounced “tinn”). It comes after the noun: páiste tinn, a sick child; girseach thinn, a sick girl.
How do you say sicker and sickest in Irish?
níos tinne is sicker and is tinne is sickest. In the past tense they become ní ba thinne and ba thinne.
Why does tinn become thinn?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So girseach thinn (a sick girl) but páiste tinn (a sick child), because páiste is masculine.
What is the plural of tinn?
With a plural noun tinn becomes tinne: páistí tinne, girseacha tinne.
How do you say very sick in Irish?
an-tinn. Too sick is róthinn, and as sick as is chomh tinn le.
Does tinn have more than one meaning?
Yes. Tinn can mean sick or sore, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'tinn' and 'breoite'?
Both mean ill, but 'tinn' is the everyday word and can also mean sore, as in 'Tá mo cheann tinn'. 'Breoite' is a little more formal and means ill only.
How do I say I am sick and tired of something?
Use 'tinn tuirseach de', for example 'Tá mé tinn tuirseach de'.
