HeyRuaHow to say “sympathetic” in Irish
- Irish:
- comhbhách
- English:
- sympathetic
- Word type:
- adjective
- More sympathetic:
- níos comhbháiche
- Most sympathetic:
- is comhbháiche
- Plural:
- comhbhácha
- Pronunciation:
- “KOH-vaakh” /ˈkoːvˠaːx/
What does “comhbhách” mean?
- sympathetic
- Showing kindness and understanding towards someone who is suffering or in trouble.Also: compassionate, understanding, caring.
Other Irish adjectives for sympathetic: báúil (sympathetic)
“Comhbhách” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is comhbhách after dochtúir (doctor, 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 chomhbhách. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: dochtúir comhbhách.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, comhbhácha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: mná comhbhácha.
More sympathetic, most sympathetic, very sympathetic
Tá sí níos comhbháiche ná a deartháir. She is more sympathetic than her brother.
| more sympathetic | níos comhbháiche | in the past tense: ní ba chomhbháiche |
|---|---|---|
| most sympathetic | is comhbháiche | in the past tense: ba chomhbháiche |
| as sympathetic as | chomh comhbhách le | no change after chomh |
| very sympathetic | an-chomhbhách | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too sympathetic | róchomhbhách | ró- lenites |
“Comhbhách” 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.
Sympathetic in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for sympathetic?
The Irish for sympathetic is comhbhách (pronounced “KOH-vaakh”). It comes after the noun: dochtúir comhbhách, a sympathetic doctor; bean chomhbhách, a sympathetic woman.
How do you say more sympathetic and most sympathetic in Irish?
níos comhbháiche is more sympathetic and is comhbháiche is most sympathetic. In the past tense they become ní ba chomhbháiche and ba chomhbháiche.
Why does comhbhách become chomhbhách?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean chomhbhách (a sympathetic woman) but dochtúir comhbhách (a sympathetic doctor), because dochtúir is masculine.
What is the plural of comhbhách?
With a plural noun comhbhách becomes comhbhácha: dochtúirí comhbhácha, mná comhbhácha.
How do you say very sympathetic in Irish?
an-chomhbhách. Too sympathetic is róchomhbhách, and as sympathetic as is chomh comhbhách le.
What is the difference between 'comhbhách' and 'báúil'?
Both can mean sympathetic, but 'comhbhách' stresses compassion for someone's trouble, while 'báúil' often means well-disposed or favourable, as in 'báúil le cúis' (sympathetic to a cause).
What noun is related to 'comhbhách'?
The noun is 'comhbhá', sympathy or compassion, as in 'Tá comhbhá agam leat' (I sympathise with you).
