HeyRuaHow to say “well-meaning” in Irish
- Irish:
- dea-mhéineach
- English:
- well-meaning
- Word type:
- adjective
- More well-meaning:
- níos dea-mhéiní
- Most well-meaning:
- is dea-mhéiní
- Plural:
- dea-mhéineacha
- Pronunciation:
- “dya-VAY-nyakh” /ˈdʲaˌvʲeːnʲəx/
What does “dea-mhéineach” mean?
- well-meaning
- Having good intentions and wishing others well.Also: well-intentioned, benevolent, well-disposed, kindly.
“Dea-mhéineach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is dea-mhéineach after fear (man, masculine), after comharsa (neighbour, 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: comharsa dhea-mhéineach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear dea-mhéineach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, dea-mhéineacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir dhea-mhéineacha; after other plurals it does not: comharsana dea-mhéineacha.
More well-meaning, most well-meaning, very well-meaning
Tá sí níos dea-mhéiní ná a deartháir. She is more well-meaning than her brother.
| more well-meaning | níos dea-mhéiní | in the past tense: ní ba dhea-mhéiní |
|---|---|---|
| most well-meaning | is dea-mhéiní | in the past tense: ba dhea-mhéiní |
| as well-meaning as | chomh dea-mhéineach le | no change after chomh |
| very well-meaning | an-dea-mhéineach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too well-meaning | ródhea-mhéineach | ró- lenites |
“Dea-mhéineach” 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.
Well-meaning in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for well-meaning?
The Irish for well-meaning is dea-mhéineach (pronounced “dya-VAY-nyakh”). It comes after the noun: fear dea-mhéineach, a well-meaning man; comharsa dhea-mhéineach, a well-meaning neighbour.
How do you say more well-meaning and most well-meaning in Irish?
níos dea-mhéiní is more well-meaning and is dea-mhéiní is most well-meaning. In the past tense they become ní ba dhea-mhéiní and ba dhea-mhéiní.
Why does dea-mhéineach become dhea-mhéineach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So comharsa dhea-mhéineach (a well-meaning neighbour) but fear dea-mhéineach (a well-meaning man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of dea-mhéineach?
With a plural noun dea-mhéineach becomes dea-mhéineacha: fir dhea-mhéineacha, comharsana dea-mhéineacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very well-meaning in Irish?
an-dea-mhéineach. Too well-meaning is ródhea-mhéineach, and as well-meaning as is chomh dea-mhéineach le.
What is the opposite of 'dea-mhéineach'?
The opposite is 'drochmhéineach', meaning ill-disposed or malicious. Both come from 'méin', meaning disposition or mind.
