HeyRuaHow to say “smooth” in Irish
- Irish:
- mín
- English:
- smooth, fine, gentle
- Word type:
- adjective
- Smoother:
- níos míne
- Smoothest:
- is míne
- Plural:
- míne
- Pronunciation:
- “meen” /mʲiːnʲ/
What does “mín” mean?
“Mín” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- smooth
- Having an even surface with no roughness or bumps.Also: even, level, sleek.
2 other meanings: fine or gentle
- 2fine
- Made of very small particles or with very small gaps, like fine flour or a fine comb.Also: finely ground, powdery.
- 3gentle
- Soft, mild and gentle in manner or touch.Also: soft, mild, tender, delicate.
The same spelling has its own page as:
“Mín” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is mín after craiceann (skin, masculine), after lámh (hand, 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: lámh mhín. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: craiceann mín.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, míne. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: lámha míne.
Smoother, smoothest, very smooth
Tá an plúr seo níos míne ná an ceann eile. This flour is finer than the other one.
| smoother | níos míne | in the past tense: ní ba mhíne |
|---|---|---|
| smoothest | is míne | in the past tense: ba mhíne |
| as smooth as | chomh mín le | no change after chomh |
| very smooth | an-mhín | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too smooth | rómhín | ró- lenites |
“Mín” 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.
Smooth in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for smooth?
The Irish for smooth is mín (pronounced “meen”). It comes after the noun: craiceann mín, a smooth skin; lámh mhín, a smooth hand.
How do you say smoother and smoothest in Irish?
níos míne is smoother and is míne is smoothest. In the past tense they become ní ba mhíne and ba mhíne.
Why does mín become mhín?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So lámh mhín (a smooth hand) but craiceann mín (a smooth skin), because craiceann is masculine.
What is the plural of mín?
With a plural noun mín becomes míne: craicne míne, lámha míne.
How do you say very smooth in Irish?
an-mhín. Too smooth is rómhín, and as smooth as is chomh mín le.
Does mín have more than one meaning?
Yes. Mín can mean smooth, fine or gentle, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'mín' and 'min'?
'Mín' with a long vowel is the adjective meaning smooth or fine, while 'min' with a short vowel is a noun meaning meal or ground grain, as in 'min choirce' (oatmeal).
What is the opposite of 'mín'?
The usual opposite is 'garbh', meaning rough or coarse, as in 'craiceann garbh' (rough skin).
