HeyRuaHow to say “smell” in Irish
- Irish:
- boladh
- English:
- smell, sense of smell, scent
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “BUL-oo” /ˈbˠɔl̪ˠə/
- Plural:
- bolaithe (smells)
- Genitive singular:
- bolaidh, an bholaidh (e.g. neart an bholaidh, the strength of the smell)
- Genitive plural:
- bolaithe, na mbolaithe (e.g. meascán na mbolaithe, the mixture of the smells)
What does “boladh” mean?
“Boladh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- smell
- The quality of something that you notice through your nose, pleasant or unpleasant.Also: odour, scent, aroma.
2 other meanings: sense of smell or scent
- 2sense of smell
- The ability to perceive smells with the nose.Also: smell, olfaction.
- 3scent
- A trace or hint of something, such as the scent an animal leaves or a slight sign of something.Also: trace, whiff, hint.
Other Irish words for smell: boltanas (smell)
“Boladh” with the article
The plural of smell in Irish is bolaithe. Here is boladh after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Boladh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using boladh, the Irish word for smell.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Smell in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for smell?
The Irish for smell is boladh (pronounced “BUL-oo”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is bolaithe. Depending on context it can also mean sense of smell or scent.
How do you pronounce boladh in Irish?
Boladh is said like “BUL-oo” (IPA /ˈbˠɔl̪ˠə/).
What is the plural of smell in Irish?
The plural of boladh is bolaithe; with the article, na bolaithe means “the smells”. The genitive plural is bolaithe, as in meascán na mbolaithe (the mixture of the smells).
Does boladh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Boladh can mean smell, sense of smell or scent, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does boladh change to bholadh or mboladh?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) boladh becomes mo bholadh (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár mboladh (eclipsis).
How do I say something smells of something?
Use 'boladh ... ar' or 'as': 'Tá boladh deataigh ar do chóta' means your coat smells of smoke.
What is the verb meaning to smell?
The verb is 'bolaigh', as in 'Bolaigh an bláth seo'.
