HeyRuaHow to say “strange” in Irish
- Irish:
- coimhthíoch
- English:
- strange, aloof, exotic
- Word type:
- adjective
- Stranger:
- níos coimhthíche
- Strangest:
- is coimhthíche
- Plural:
- coimhthíocha
- Pronunciation:
- “KYVE-ee-uck” /ˈkɨ̃vʲiəx/
What does “coimhthíoch” mean?
“Coimhthíoch” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- strange
- Not known or familiar to you; alien.Also: unfamiliar, alien, foreign.
2 other meanings: aloof or exotic
- 2aloof
- Shy or distant in manner, not friendly with strangers.Also: shy, reserved, standoffish, distant.
- 3exotic
- Coming from another country or place; foreign.Also: foreign, alien.
Other Irish adjectives for strange: aisteach (strange), ait (strange), corr (odd), strainséartha (strange)
The same spelling has its own page as:
“Coimhthíoch” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is coimhthíoch after fear (man, masculine), after teanga (language, 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: teanga choimhthíoch. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear coimhthíoch.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, coimhthíocha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir choimhthíocha; after other plurals it does not: teangacha coimhthíocha.
Stranger, strangest, very strange
Bhí an chathair níos coimhthíche ná mar a cheap mé. The city was stranger than I thought.
| stranger | níos coimhthíche | in the past tense: ní ba choimhthíche |
|---|---|---|
| strangest | is coimhthíche | in the past tense: ba choimhthíche |
| as strange as | chomh coimhthíoch le | no change after chomh |
| very strange | an-choimhthíoch | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too strange | róchoimhthíoch | ró- lenites |
“Coimhthíoch” 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.
Strange in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for strange?
The Irish for strange is coimhthíoch (pronounced “KYVE-ee-uck”). It comes after the noun: fear coimhthíoch, a strange man; teanga choimhthíoch, a strange language.
How do you say stranger and strangest in Irish?
níos coimhthíche is stranger and is coimhthíche is strangest. In the past tense they become ní ba choimhthíche and ba choimhthíche.
Why does coimhthíoch become choimhthíoch?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So teanga choimhthíoch (a strange language) but fear coimhthíoch (a strange man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of coimhthíoch?
With a plural noun coimhthíoch becomes coimhthíocha: fir choimhthíocha, teangacha coimhthíocha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very strange in Irish?
an-choimhthíoch. Too strange is róchoimhthíoch, and as strange as is chomh coimhthíoch le.
Does coimhthíoch have more than one meaning?
Yes. Coimhthíoch can mean strange, aloof or exotic, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between coimhthíoch and aisteach?
Aisteach means odd or peculiar, while coimhthíoch stresses that something is unfamiliar or alien to you, or that a person is aloof: bhí sé coimhthíoch liom, he was distant with me.
