HeyRuaHow to say “spirited” in Irish
- Irish:
- meanmnach
- English:
- spirited, cheerful
- Word type:
- adjective
- More spirited:
- níos meanmnaí
- Most spirited:
- is meanmnaí
- Plural:
- meanmnacha
- Pronunciation:
- “MAN-a-nukh” /mʲanˠəmˠnˠəx/
What does “meanmnach” mean?
“Meanmnach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- spirited
- Full of energy, courage and lively spirit.Also: lively, high-spirited, energetic, mettlesome.
“Meanmnach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is meanmnach after capall (horse, masculine), after bean (woman, 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: bean mheanmnach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: capall meanmnach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, meanmnacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: capaill mheanmnacha; after other plurals it does not: mná meanmnacha.
More spirited, most spirited, very spirited
Tá sí níos meanmnaí inniu ná inné. She is in better spirits today than yesterday.
| more spirited | níos meanmnaí | in the past tense: ní ba mheanmnaí |
|---|---|---|
| most spirited | is meanmnaí | in the past tense: ba mheanmnaí |
| as spirited as | chomh meanmnach le | no change after chomh |
| very spirited | an-mheanmnach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too spirited | rómheanmnach | ró- lenites |
“Meanmnach” 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.
Spirited in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for spirited?
The Irish for spirited is meanmnach (pronounced “MAN-a-nukh”). It comes after the noun: capall meanmnach, a spirited horse; bean mheanmnach, a spirited woman.
How do you say more spirited and most spirited in Irish?
níos meanmnaí is more spirited and is meanmnaí is most spirited. In the past tense they become ní ba mheanmnaí and ba mheanmnaí.
Why does meanmnach become mheanmnach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean mheanmnach (a spirited woman) but capall meanmnach (a spirited horse), because capall is masculine.
What is the plural of meanmnach?
With a plural noun meanmnach becomes meanmnacha: capaill mheanmnacha, mná meanmnacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very spirited in Irish?
an-mheanmnach. Too spirited is rómheanmnach, and as spirited as is chomh meanmnach le.
Does meanmnach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Meanmnach can mean spirited or cheerful, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What noun is meanmnach related to?
It comes from 'meanma', meaning spirit, mind or morale; 'tá meanma mhaith ann' means he is in good spirits.
