HeyRuaHow to say “tonal” in Irish
- Irish:
- tonúil
- English:
- tonal
- Word type:
- adjective
- More tonal:
- níos tonúla
- Most tonal:
- is tonúla
- Plural:
- tonúla
- Pronunciation:
- “TUN-ool” /ˈt̪ˠʊnˠuːlʲ/
What does “tonúil” mean?
- tonal
- Relating to tone or tones, especially in music or in languages where pitch changes meaning.Also: of tone, tone-related.
“Tonúil” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is tonúil after ceol (music, masculine), after teanga (language, 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: teanga thonúil. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: ceol tonúil.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, tonúla. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: teangacha tonúla.
More tonal, most tonal, very tonal
Tá an píosa seo níos tonúla ná an ceann eile. This piece is more tonal than the other one.
| more tonal | níos tonúla | in the past tense: ní ba thonúla |
|---|---|---|
| most tonal | is tonúla | in the past tense: ba thonúla |
| as tonal as | chomh tonúil le | no change after chomh |
| very tonal | an-tonúil | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too tonal | róthonúil | ró- lenites |
“Tonúil” 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.
Tonal in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for tonal?
The Irish for tonal is tonúil (pronounced “TUN-ool”). It comes after the noun: ceol tonúil, tonal music; teanga thonúil, a tonal language.
How do you say more tonal and most tonal in Irish?
níos tonúla is more tonal and is tonúla is most tonal. In the past tense they become ní ba thonúla and ba thonúla.
Why does tonúil become thonúil?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So teanga thonúil (a tonal language) but ceol tonúil (tonal music), because ceol is masculine.
What is the plural of tonúil?
With a plural noun tonúil becomes tonúla: ceolta tonúla, teangacha tonúla.
How do you say very tonal in Irish?
an-tonúil. Too tonal is róthonúil, and as tonal as is chomh tonúil le.
How do I say 'a tonal language' in Irish?
Say 'teanga thonúil', with lenition because 'teanga' is feminine.
