HeyRuaHow to say “ugly” in Irish
- Irish:
- míofar
- English:
- ugly, nasty
- Word type:
- adjective
- Uglier:
- níos míofaire
- Ugliest:
- is míofaire
- Plural:
- míofara
- Pronunciation:
- “MEE-fur” /ˈmʲiːfˠəɾˠ/
What does “míofar” mean?
“Míofar” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- ugly
- Unpleasant to look at, not good-looking.Also: unattractive, ill-favoured, unsightly, plain.
1 other meaning: nasty
- 2nasty
- Unpleasant or disagreeable, for example of weather or behaviour.Also: unpleasant, horrid.
Other Irish adjectives for ugly: gránna (ugly)
“Míofar” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is míofar after teach (house, masculine), after aghaidh (face, 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: aghaidh mhíofar. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: teach míofar.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, míofara. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: aghaidheanna míofara.
Uglier, ugliest, very ugly
Tá an dealbh seo níos míofaire ná an ceann eile. This statue is uglier than the other one.
| uglier | níos míofaire | in the past tense: ní ba mhíofaire |
|---|---|---|
| ugliest | is míofaire | in the past tense: ba mhíofaire |
| as ugly as | chomh míofar le | no change after chomh |
| very ugly | an-mhíofar | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too ugly | rómhíofar | ró- lenites |
“Míofar” 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.
Ugly in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for ugly?
The Irish for ugly is míofar (pronounced “MEE-fur”). It comes after the noun: teach míofar, an ugly house; aghaidh mhíofar, an ugly face.
How do you say uglier and ugliest in Irish?
níos míofaire is uglier and is míofaire is ugliest. In the past tense they become ní ba mhíofaire and ba mhíofaire.
Why does míofar become mhíofar?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So aghaidh mhíofar (an ugly face) but teach míofar (an ugly house), because teach is masculine.
What is the plural of míofar?
With a plural noun míofar becomes míofara: tithe míofara, aghaidheanna míofara.
How do you say very ugly in Irish?
an-mhíofar. Too ugly is rómhíofar, and as ugly as is chomh míofar le.
Does míofar have more than one meaning?
Yes. Míofar can mean ugly or nasty, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'míofar' and 'gránna'?
Both mean ugly, but 'gránna' is more common and can also mean nasty or horrible, while 'míofar' mainly refers to appearance.
