HeyRuaHow to say “thin” in Irish
- Irish:
- scáinte
- English:
- thin, threadbare
- Word type:
- adjective
- Thinner:
- níos scáinte
- Thinnest:
- is scáinte
- Pronunciation:
- “SKAWN-cha” /ˈskaːnʲtʲə/
What does “scáinte” mean?
“Scáinte” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- thin
- Sparse or thinly spread, with gaps between the parts, like thin hair or a thin crowd.Also: sparse, scanty, thinly spread.
“Scáinte” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is scáinte after fear (man, masculine), after girseach (girl, feminine) and after a plural.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, scáinte.
Thinner, thinnest, very thin
Tá an slua níos scáinte inniu ná inné. The crowd is thinner today than yesterday.
| thinner | níos scáinte | in the past tense: ní ba scáinte |
|---|---|---|
| thinnest | is scáinte | in the past tense: ba scáinte |
| as thin as | chomh scáinte le | no change after chomh |
| very thin | an-scáinte | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too thin | róscáinte | ró- lenites |
“Scáinte” 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.
Thin in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for thin?
The Irish for thin is scáinte (pronounced “SKAWN-cha”). It comes after the noun: fear scáinte, a thin man; girseach scáinte, a thin girl.
How do you say thinner and thinnest in Irish?
níos scáinte is thinner and is scáinte is thinnest. In the past tense they become ní ba scáinte and ba scáinte.
How do you say very thin in Irish?
an-scáinte. Too thin is róscáinte, and as thin as is chomh scáinte le.
Does scáinte have more than one meaning?
Yes. Scáinte can mean thin or threadbare, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'scáinte' and 'tanaí'?
'Tanaí' means thin in thickness or build, while 'scáinte' means thinly spread or sparse, as in 'gruaig scáinte' (thin, sparse hair).
