HeyRuaHow to say “sturdy” in Irish
- Irish:
- balcánta
- English:
- sturdy, strong
- Word type:
- adjective
- Sturdier:
- níos balcánta
- Sturdiest:
- is balcánta
- Pronunciation:
- “BAL-kawn-ta” /ˈbˠal̪ˠkaːn̪ˠt̪ˠə/
What does “balcánta” mean?
“Balcánta” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- sturdy
- Strongly and solidly built, stocky and robust.Also: stocky, robust, strong, burly.
“Balcánta” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is balcánta after fear (man, 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 bhalcánta. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear balcánta.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, balcánta. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir bhalcánta; after other plurals it does not: mná balcánta.
Sturdier, sturdiest, very sturdy
Tá Seán níos balcánta ná a athair. Seán is sturdier than his father.
| sturdier | níos balcánta | in the past tense: ní ba bhalcánta |
|---|---|---|
| sturdiest | is balcánta | in the past tense: ba bhalcánta |
| as sturdy as | chomh balcánta le | no change after chomh |
| very sturdy | an-bhalcánta | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too sturdy | róbhalcánta | ró- lenites |
“Balcánta” 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.
Sturdy in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for sturdy?
The Irish for sturdy is balcánta (pronounced “BAL-kawn-ta”). It comes after the noun: fear balcánta, a sturdy man; bean bhalcánta, a sturdy woman.
How do you say sturdier and sturdiest in Irish?
níos balcánta is sturdier and is balcánta is sturdiest. In the past tense they become ní ba bhalcánta and ba bhalcánta.
Why does balcánta become bhalcánta?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean bhalcánta (a sturdy woman) but fear balcánta (a sturdy man), because fear is masculine.
How do you say very sturdy in Irish?
an-bhalcánta. Too sturdy is róbhalcánta, and as sturdy as is chomh balcánta le.
Does balcánta have more than one meaning?
Yes. Balcánta can mean sturdy or strong, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is 'balcánta' different from 'láidir'?
'Láidir' is the everyday word for strong, while 'balcánta' stresses a solid, stocky, well-built frame, as in 'fear balcánta'.
