HeyRuaHow to say “sympathetic” in Irish
- Irish:
- báúil
- English:
- sympathetic, well-disposed
- Word type:
- adjective
- More sympathetic:
- níos báúla
- Most sympathetic:
- is báúla
- Plural:
- báúla
- Pronunciation:
- “BAW-ool” /ˈbˠaːuːlʲ/
What does “báúil” mean?
“Báúil” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- sympathetic
- Feeling or showing sympathy and understanding towards someone.Also: understanding, compassionate, kindly.
1 other meaning: well-disposed
- 2well-disposed
- Friendly towards or in favour of a person or cause.Also: favourable, supportive, friendly.
Other Irish adjectives for sympathetic: comhbhách (sympathetic)
“Báúil” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is báúil after cara (friend, masculine), after comharsa (neighbour, 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: comharsa bháúil. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: cara báúil.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, báúla. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: comharsana báúla.
More sympathetic, most sympathetic, very sympathetic
Tá sí níos báúla ná a deartháir. She is more sympathetic than her brother.
| more sympathetic | níos báúla | in the past tense: ní ba bháúla |
|---|---|---|
| most sympathetic | is báúla | in the past tense: ba bháúla |
| as sympathetic as | chomh báúil le | no change after chomh |
| very sympathetic | an-bháúil | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too sympathetic | róbháúil | ró- lenites |
“Báúil” 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 báúil (pronounced “BAW-ool”). It comes after the noun: cara báúil, a sympathetic friend; comharsa bháúil, a sympathetic neighbour.
How do you say more sympathetic and most sympathetic in Irish?
níos báúla is more sympathetic and is báúla is most sympathetic. In the past tense they become ní ba bháúla and ba bháúla.
Why does báúil become bháúil?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So comharsa bháúil (a sympathetic neighbour) but cara báúil (a sympathetic friend), because cara is masculine.
What is the plural of báúil?
With a plural noun báúil becomes báúla: cairde báúla, comharsana báúla.
How do you say very sympathetic in Irish?
an-bháúil. Too sympathetic is róbháúil, and as sympathetic as is chomh báúil le.
Does báúil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Báúil can mean sympathetic or well-disposed, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Which preposition goes with báúil?
Use le: "Tá sé báúil leis na hoibrithe" means he is sympathetic to the workers.
How is báúil different from comhbhách?
"Báúil" often means well-disposed or in favour of someone or a cause, while "comhbhách" stresses compassion for someone's suffering.
