HeyRuaHow to say “unlucky” in Irish
- Irish:
- mí-ámharach
- English:
- unlucky, unfortunate
- Word type:
- adjective
- More unlucky:
- níos mí-ámharaí
- Most unlucky:
- is mí-ámharaí
- Plural:
- mí-ámharacha
- Pronunciation:
- “mee-AW-wur-ukh” /ˈmʲiːˌaːwəɾˠəx/
What does “mí-ámharach” mean?
“Mí-ámharach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- unlucky
- Having or bringing bad luck.Also: unfortunate, ill-fated, luckless.
1 other meaning: unfortunate
- 2unfortunate
- Regrettable or happening by bad luck.Also: regrettable, unhappy.
Other Irish adjectives for unlucky: mífhortúnach (unfortunate)
“Mí-ámharach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is mí-ámharach after lá (day, masculine), after uimhir (number, 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: uimhir mhí-ámharach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: lá mí-ámharach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, mí-ámharacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: uimhreacha mí-ámharacha.
More unlucky, most unlucky, very unlucky
Bhí sé níos mí-ámharaí ná a dheartháir. He was more unlucky than his brother.
| more unlucky | níos mí-ámharaí | in the past tense: ní ba mhí-ámharaí |
|---|---|---|
| most unlucky | is mí-ámharaí | in the past tense: ba mhí-ámharaí |
| as unlucky as | chomh mí-ámharach le | no change after chomh |
| very unlucky | an-mhí-ámharach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too unlucky | rómhí-ámharach | ró- lenites |
“Mí-ámharach” 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.
Unlucky in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for unlucky?
The Irish for unlucky is mí-ámharach (pronounced “mee-AW-wur-ukh”). It comes after the noun: lá mí-ámharach, an unlucky day; uimhir mhí-ámharach, an unlucky number.
How do you say more unlucky and most unlucky in Irish?
níos mí-ámharaí is more unlucky and is mí-ámharaí is most unlucky. In the past tense they become ní ba mhí-ámharaí and ba mhí-ámharaí.
Why does mí-ámharach become mhí-ámharach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So uimhir mhí-ámharach (an unlucky number) but lá mí-ámharach (an unlucky day), because lá is masculine.
What is the plural of mí-ámharach?
With a plural noun mí-ámharach becomes mí-ámharacha: laethanta mí-ámharacha, uimhreacha mí-ámharacha.
How do you say very unlucky in Irish?
an-mhí-ámharach. Too unlucky is rómhí-ámharach, and as unlucky as is chomh mí-ámharach le.
Does mí-ámharach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Mí-ámharach can mean unlucky or unfortunate, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the opposite of 'mí-ámharach'?
The opposite is 'ámharach', meaning lucky; 'ádhúil' is also common for lucky.
