HeyRuaHow to say “widespread” in Irish
- Irish:
- forleathan
- English:
- widespread, broad
- Word type:
- adjective
- More widespread:
- níos forleithne
- Most widespread:
- is forleithne
- Plural:
- forleathana
- Pronunciation:
- “FOR-lah-hun” /ˈfˠɔɾˠlʲahən̪ˠ/
What does “forleathan” mean?
“Forleathan” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- widespread
- Found or happening over a large area or among many people.Also: extensive, general, prevalent, broad.
1 other meaning: broad
- 2broad
- Wide in range or scope, covering many things.Also: wide-ranging, comprehensive, far-reaching.
“Forleathan” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is forleathan after tionchar (influence, masculine), after tuairim (opinion, 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: tuairim fhorleathan. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: tionchar forleathan.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, forleathana. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: tionchair fhorleathana; after other plurals it does not: tuairimí forleathana.
More widespread, most widespread, very widespread
Tá an fhadhb níos forleithne ná mar a cheapamar. The problem is more widespread than we thought.
| more widespread | níos forleithne | in the past tense: ní b'fhorleithne |
|---|---|---|
| most widespread | is forleithne | in the past tense: ab fhorleithne |
| as widespread as | chomh forleathan le | no change after chomh |
| very widespread | an-fhorleathan | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too widespread | rófhorleathan | ró- lenites |
“Forleathan” 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.
Widespread in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for widespread?
The Irish for widespread is forleathan (pronounced “FOR-lah-hun”). It comes after the noun: tionchar forleathan, a widespread influence; tuairim fhorleathan, a widespread opinion.
How do you say more widespread and most widespread in Irish?
níos forleithne is more widespread and is forleithne is most widespread. In the past tense they become ní b'fhorleithne and ab fhorleithne.
Why does forleathan become fhorleathan?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So tuairim fhorleathan (a widespread opinion) but tionchar forleathan (a widespread influence), because tionchar is masculine.
What is the plural of forleathan?
With a plural noun forleathan becomes forleathana: tionchair fhorleathana, tuairimí forleathana. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very widespread in Irish?
an-fhorleathan. Too widespread is rófhorleathan, and as widespread as is chomh forleathan le.
Does forleathan have more than one meaning?
Yes. Forleathan can mean widespread or broad, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is 'forleathan' different from 'leathan'?
'Leathan' means physically broad or wide, as in 'bóthar leathan', while 'forleathan' means widespread or general, as in 'tuairim fhorleathan'.
