HeyRuaHow to say “smelling” in Irish
- Irish:
- bolaíocht
- English:
- smelling
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, third declension
- Pronunciation:
- “BUL-ee-ukht” /ˈbˠɔl̪ˠiːəxt̪ˠ/
Various forms
- Genitive singular:
- bolaíochta, na bolaíochta (e.g. cumas bolaíochta, power of smelling)
What does “bolaíocht” mean?
- smelling
- The act of smelling or sniffing at something, as an animal does to pick up a scent.Also: sniffing, scenting, nosing.
“Bolaíocht” with the article
Here is bolaíocht after the article (an t-alt).
an bholaíocht
the smelling
Lenition: b becomes bh after an (feminine noun)
“Bolaíocht” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using bolaíocht, the Irish word for smelling.
Bhí an madra ag bolaíocht timpeall an ghairdín.
The dog was sniffing around the garden.
Tá an bholaíocht an-láidir ag an mbroc.
The badger has a very keen sense of smell.
Chuala mé an madra ag bolaíocht ag an doras.
I heard the dog sniffing at the door.
Bíonn madraí ag brath ar a gcumas bolaíochta.
Dogs rely on their sense of smell.
Stop an bholaíocht sin, a mhadra!
Stop that sniffing, dog!
Lean an cú an giorria trí bholaíocht.
The hound followed the hare by scent.
Ní raibh deireadh leis an mbolaíocht sa chistin.
There was no end to the sniffing in the kitchen.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Smelling in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for smelling?
The Irish for smelling is bolaíocht (pronounced “BUL-ee-ukht”). It’s a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce bolaíocht in Irish?
Bolaíocht is said like “BUL-ee-ukht” (IPA /ˈbˠɔl̪ˠiːəxt̪ˠ/).
Does bolaíocht have a plural?
No plural form is given for bolaíocht in the standard. Many abstract and mass nouns in Irish have no plural.
Why does bolaíocht change to bholaíocht or mbolaíocht?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) bolaíocht becomes mo bholaíocht (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár mbolaíocht (eclipsis).
What is the difference between bolaíocht and boladh?
Boladh is the smell or scent itself, while bolaíocht is the action of smelling or sniffing, as in 'ag bolaíocht'.
