HeyRuaHow to say “voluntary” in Irish
- Irish:
- saorálach
- English:
- voluntary
- Word type:
- adjective
- More voluntary:
- níos saorálaí
- Most voluntary:
- is saorálaí
- Plural:
- saorálacha
- Pronunciation:
- “SEER-aw-lukh” /ˈsˠiːɾˠaːl̪ˠəx/
What does “saorálach” mean?
- voluntary
- Done or given freely by choice, not because you are forced or paid.Also: optional, unpaid, volunteer.
Other Irish adjectives for voluntary: deonach (voluntary)
“Saorálach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is saorálach after fear (man, 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 shaorálach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear saorálach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, saorálacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir shaorálacha; after other plurals it does not: girseacha saorálacha.
More voluntary, most voluntary, very voluntary
| more voluntary | níos saorálaí | in the past tense: ní ba shaorálaí |
|---|---|---|
| most voluntary | is saorálaí | in the past tense: ba shaorálaí |
| as voluntary as | chomh saorálach le | no change after chomh |
| very voluntary | an-saorálach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too voluntary | róshaorálach | ró- lenites |
“Saorálach” 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.
Voluntary in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for voluntary?
The Irish for voluntary is saorálach (pronounced “SEER-aw-lukh”). It comes after the noun: fear saorálach, a voluntary man; girseach shaorálach, a voluntary girl.
How do you say more voluntary and most voluntary in Irish?
níos saorálaí is more voluntary and is saorálaí is most voluntary. In the past tense they become ní ba shaorálaí and ba shaorálaí.
Why does saorálach become shaorálach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So girseach shaorálach (a voluntary girl) but fear saorálach (a voluntary man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of saorálach?
With a plural noun saorálach becomes saorálacha: fir shaorálacha, girseacha saorálacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very voluntary in Irish?
an-saorálach. Too voluntary is róshaorálach, and as voluntary as is chomh saorálach le.
What is the difference between 'saorálach' and 'deonach'?
Both can mean voluntary; 'deonach' stresses willingness, as in 'síntiús deonach' (a voluntary contribution), while 'saorálach' is common for volunteer work, as in 'obair shaorálach'.
How do I say 'a volunteer' in Irish?
Use the noun 'saorálaí' (plural 'saorálaithe'), for example 'Is saorálaí í', she is a volunteer.
