HeyRuaHow to say “wilful” in Irish
- Irish:
- toiliúil
- English:
- wilful, self-willed
- Word type:
- adjective
- More wilful:
- níos toiliúla
- Most wilful:
- is toiliúla
- Plural:
- toiliúla
- Pronunciation:
- “TIL-oo-il” /ˈt̪ɛlʲuːlʲ/
What does “toiliúil” mean?
“Toiliúil” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- wilful
- Done deliberately and on purpose, by one's own choice.Also: deliberate, intentional, voluntary.
1 other meaning: self-willed
- 2self-willed
- Determined to have one's own way; headstrong.Also: headstrong, wilful, stubborn.
“Toiliúil” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is toiliúil after páiste (child, 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 thoiliúil. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: páiste toiliúil.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, toiliúla. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: girseacha toiliúla.
More wilful, most wilful, very wilful
Tá Seán níos toiliúla ná a dheartháir. Seán is more self-willed than his brother.
| more wilful | níos toiliúla | in the past tense: ní ba thoiliúla |
|---|---|---|
| most wilful | is toiliúla | in the past tense: ba thoiliúla |
| as wilful as | chomh toiliúil le | no change after chomh |
| very wilful | an-toiliúil | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too wilful | róthoiliúil | ró- lenites |
“Toiliúil” 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.
Wilful in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for wilful?
The Irish for wilful is toiliúil (pronounced “TIL-oo-il”). It comes after the noun: páiste toiliúil, a wilful child; girseach thoiliúil, a wilful girl.
How do you say more wilful and most wilful in Irish?
níos toiliúla is more wilful and is toiliúla is most wilful. In the past tense they become ní ba thoiliúla and ba thoiliúla.
Why does toiliúil become thoiliúil?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So girseach thoiliúil (a wilful girl) but páiste toiliúil (a wilful child), because páiste is masculine.
What is the plural of toiliúil?
With a plural noun toiliúil becomes toiliúla: páistí toiliúla, girseacha toiliúla.
How do you say very wilful in Irish?
an-toiliúil. Too wilful is róthoiliúil, and as wilful as is chomh toiliúil le.
Does toiliúil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Toiliúil can mean wilful or self-willed, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is 'toiliúil' different from 'deonach'?
'Deonach' means voluntary in a neutral sense, as in 'obair dheonach', while 'toiliúil' suggests wilfulness or doing something deliberately, often wrongly, as in 'damáiste toiliúil'.
