HeyRuaHow to say “thrifty” in Irish
- Irish:
- tíosach
- English:
- thrifty, hospitable
- Word type:
- adjective
- Thriftier:
- níos tíosaí
- Thriftiest:
- is tíosaí
- Plural:
- tíosacha
- Pronunciation:
- “TEE-uh-sukh” /tʲiːəsəx/
What does “tíosach” mean?
“Tíosach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- thrifty
- Careful with money and resources, not wasteful.Also: economical, frugal, sparing, careful with money.
1 other meaning: hospitable
- 2hospitable
- Generous and welcoming to guests in the home.Also: generous, welcoming.
“Tíosach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is tíosach after feirmeoir (farmer, masculine), after girseach (girl, 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: girseach thíosach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: feirmeoir tíosach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, tíosacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: girseacha tíosacha.
Thriftier, thriftiest, very thrifty
Tá mo mháthair níos tíosaí ná m'athair. My mother is more thrifty than my father.
| thriftier | níos tíosaí | in the past tense: ní ba thíosaí |
|---|---|---|
| thriftiest | is tíosaí | in the past tense: ba thíosaí |
| as thrifty as | chomh tíosach le | no change after chomh |
| very thrifty | an-tíosach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too thrifty | róthíosach | ró- lenites |
“Tíosach” 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.
Thrifty in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for thrifty?
The Irish for thrifty is tíosach (pronounced “TEE-uh-sukh”). It comes after the noun: feirmeoir tíosach, a thrifty farmer; girseach thíosach, a thrifty girl.
How do you say thriftier and thriftiest in Irish?
níos tíosaí is thriftier and is tíosaí is thriftiest. In the past tense they become ní ba thíosaí and ba thíosaí.
Why does tíosach become thíosach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So girseach thíosach (a thrifty girl) but feirmeoir tíosach (a thrifty farmer), because feirmeoir is masculine.
What is the plural of tíosach?
With a plural noun tíosach becomes tíosacha: feirmeoirí tíosacha, girseacha tíosacha.
How do you say very thrifty in Irish?
an-tíosach. Too thrifty is róthíosach, and as thrifty as is chomh tíosach le.
Does tíosach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Tíosach can mean thrifty or hospitable, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'tíosach' and 'sprionlaithe'?
'Tíosach' is a positive word meaning thrifty or economical, while 'sprionlaithe' is negative and means stingy or mean.
