HeyRuaHow to say “slow” in Irish
- Irish:
- mall
- English:
- slow, late
- Word type:
- adjective
- Slower:
- níos moille
- Slowest:
- is moille
- Plural:
- malla
- Pronunciation:
- “mowl” /mˠɑul̪ˠ/
What does “mall” mean?
“Mall” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- slow
- Moving or happening at a low speed, not fast.Also: sluggish, unhurried, leisurely.
1 other meaning: late
- 2late
- Arriving or happening after the expected or usual time.Also: tardy, delayed, behind time.
Other Irish adjectives for slow: fadálach (slow)
“Mall” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is mall after bus (bus, masculine), after traein (train, 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: traein mhall. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: bus mall.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, malla. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: traenacha malla.
Slower, slowest, very slow
Tá an capall seo níos moille ná an ceann eile. This horse is slower than the other one.
| slower | níos moille | in the past tense: ní ba mhoille |
|---|---|---|
| slowest | is moille | in the past tense: ba mhoille |
| as slow as | chomh mall le | no change after chomh |
| very slow | an-mhall | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too slow | rómhall | ró- lenites |
“Mall” 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 mall (pronounced “mowl”). It comes after the noun: bus mall, a slow bus; traein mhall, a slow train.
How do you say slower and slowest in Irish?
níos moille is slower and is moille is slowest. In the past tense they become ní ba mhoille and ba mhoille.
Why does mall become mhall?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So traein mhall (a slow train) but bus mall (a slow bus), because bus is masculine.
What is the plural of mall?
With a plural noun mall becomes malla: busanna malla, traenacha malla.
How do you say very slow in Irish?
an-mhall. Too slow is rómhall, and as slow as is chomh mall le.
Does mall have more than one meaning?
Yes. Mall can mean slow or late, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'I was late' using mall?
Say 'Bhí mé mall'. 'Déanach' can also mean late, as in 'Bhí mé déanach'.
What is the opposite of mall?
For speed the opposite is 'tapa' or 'sciobtha', and for time it is 'luath', as in 'luath nó mall' (sooner or later).
