HeyRuaHow to say “slow” in Irish
- Irish:
- fadálach
- English:
- slow, tedious
- Word type:
- adjective
- Slower:
- níos fadálaí
- Slowest:
- is fadálaí
- Plural:
- fadálacha
- Pronunciation:
- “FAD-aw-lukh” /ˈfˠad̪ˠaːlˠəx/
What does “fadálach” mean?
“Fadálach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- slow
- Taking a long time or moving without hurry; dilatory.Also: dilatory, sluggish, lingering, tardy.
1 other meaning: tedious
- 2tedious
- Long-drawn-out and boring.Also: long-winded, drawn-out, boring.
Other Irish adjectives for slow: mall (slow)
“Fadálach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is fadálach after cluiche (game, masculine), after obair (work, 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: obair fhadálach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: cluiche fadálach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, fadálacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: oibreacha fadálacha.
Slower, slowest, very slow
Tá an bus níos fadálaí ná an traein. The bus is slower than the train.
| slower | níos fadálaí | in the past tense: ní b'fhadálaí |
|---|---|---|
| slowest | is fadálaí | in the past tense: ab fhadálaí |
| as slow as | chomh fadálach le | no change after chomh |
| very slow | an-fhadálach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too slow | rófhadálach | ró- lenites |
“Fadálach” 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.
Slow in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for slow?
The Irish for slow is fadálach (pronounced “FAD-aw-lukh”). It comes after the noun: cluiche fadálach, a slow game; obair fhadálach, slow work.
How do you say slower and slowest in Irish?
níos fadálaí is slower and is fadálaí is slowest. In the past tense they become ní b'fhadálaí and ab fhadálaí.
Why does fadálach become fhadálach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So obair fhadálach (slow work) but cluiche fadálach (a slow game), because cluiche is masculine.
What is the plural of fadálach?
With a plural noun fadálach becomes fadálacha: cluichí fadálacha, oibreacha fadálacha.
How do you say very slow in Irish?
an-fhadálach. Too slow is rófhadálach, and as slow as is chomh fadálach le.
Does fadálach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Fadálach can mean slow or tedious, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is fadálach different from mall?
Mall simply means slow or late, while fadálach suggests dragging things out, being slow and tedious, as in duine fadálach, a dawdler.
