HeyRuaHow to say “wild” in Irish
- Irish:
- fiáin
- English:
- wild, unruly, stormy
- Word type:
- adjective
- Wilder:
- níos fiáine
- Wildest:
- is fiáine
- Plural:
- fiáine
- Pronunciation:
- “FEE-awn” /ˈfʲiːɑːnʲ/
What does “fiáin” mean?
“Fiáin” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- wild
- Living or growing naturally, not tamed or cultivated by people.Also: untamed, undomesticated, uncultivated.
“Fiáin” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is fiáin after capall (horse, masculine), after bean (woman, 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: bean fhiáin. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: capall fiáin.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, fiáine. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: capaill fhiáine; after other plurals it does not: mná fiáine.
Wilder, wildest, very wild
Tá an fharraige níos fiáine inniu. The sea is wilder today.
| wilder | níos fiáine | in the past tense: ní b'fhiáine |
|---|---|---|
| wildest | is fiáine | in the past tense: ab fhiáine |
| as wild as | chomh fiáin le | no change after chomh |
| very wild | an-fhiáin | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too wild | rófhiáin | ró- lenites |
“Fiáin” 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.
Wild in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for wild?
The Irish for wild is fiáin (pronounced “FEE-awn”). It comes after the noun: capall fiáin, a wild horse; bean fhiáin, a wild woman.
How do you say wilder and wildest in Irish?
níos fiáine is wilder and is fiáine is wildest. In the past tense they become ní b'fhiáine and ab fhiáine.
Why does fiáin become fhiáin?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean fhiáin (a wild woman) but capall fiáin (a wild horse), because capall is masculine.
What is the plural of fiáin?
With a plural noun fiáin becomes fiáine: capaill fhiáine, mná fiáine. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very wild in Irish?
an-fhiáin. Too wild is rófhiáin, and as wild as is chomh fiáin le.
Does fiáin have more than one meaning?
Yes. Fiáin can mean wild, unruly or stormy, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'fiáin' and 'allta'?
Both mean wild, but 'fiáin' is the everyday word, while 'allta' is more literary and often used of savage or untamed beasts, as in 'beithíoch allta'.
