HeyRuaHow to say “slippery” in Irish
- Irish:
- sleamhain
- English:
- slippery, smooth, sly
- Word type:
- adjective
- More slippery:
- níos sleamhaine
- Most slippery:
- is sleamhaine
- Plural:
- sleamhna
- Pronunciation:
- “SHLOW-in” /ˈʃlʲaunʲ/
What does “sleamhain” mean?
“Sleamhain” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- slippery
- Hard to hold or stand on because it is wet, icy or greasy.Also: slippy, slick, greasy.
2 other meanings: smooth or sly
- 2smooth
- Having an even, sleek surface with no roughness.Also: sleek, glossy.
- 3sly
- Describes a person who is cunning, evasive or not to be trusted.Also: slippery, shifty, smooth-talking, evasive.
“Sleamhain” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is sleamhain after urlár (floor, masculine), after cathair (city, 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: cathair shleamhain. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: urlár sleamhain.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, sleamhna. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: urláir shleamhna; after other plurals it does not: cathracha sleamhna.
More slippery, most slippery, very slippery
Tá an leac oighir níos sleamhaine ná an féar. The ice is more slippery than the grass.
| more slippery | níos sleamhaine | in the past tense: ní ba shleamhaine |
|---|---|---|
| most slippery | is sleamhaine | in the past tense: ba shleamhaine |
| as slippery as | chomh sleamhain le | no change after chomh |
| very slippery | an-sleamhain | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too slippery | róshleamhain | ró- lenites |
“Sleamhain” 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.
Slippery in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for slippery?
The Irish for slippery is sleamhain (pronounced “SHLOW-in”). It comes after the noun: urlár sleamhain, a slippery floor; cathair shleamhain, a slippery city.
How do you say more slippery and most slippery in Irish?
níos sleamhaine is more slippery and is sleamhaine is most slippery. In the past tense they become ní ba shleamhaine and ba shleamhaine.
Why does sleamhain become shleamhain?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So cathair shleamhain (a slippery city) but urlár sleamhain (a slippery floor), because urlár is masculine.
What is the plural of sleamhain?
With a plural noun sleamhain becomes sleamhna: urláir shleamhna, cathracha sleamhna. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very slippery in Irish?
an-sleamhain. Too slippery is róshleamhain, and as slippery as is chomh sleamhain le.
Does sleamhain have more than one meaning?
Yes. Sleamhain can mean slippery, smooth or sly, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Can 'sleamhain' describe a person?
Yes, 'duine sleamhain' is a sly or untrustworthy person, as in 'Níor bhuail mé le duine ní ba shleamhaine riamh', I never met a more slippery person.
