HeyRuaHow to say “witty” in Irish
- Irish:
- deisbhéalach
- English:
- witty
- Word type:
- adjective
- Wittier:
- níos deisbhéalaí
- Wittiest:
- is deisbhéalaí
- Plural:
- deisbhéalacha
- Pronunciation:
- “DESH-vay-lukh” /ˈdʲɛʃvʲeːləx/
What does “deisbhéalach” mean?
- witty
- Quick and clever with words, good at making smart or funny remarks.Also: quick-witted, smart-tongued, ready-witted, glib.
“Deisbhéalach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is deisbhéalach after fear (man, masculine), after cailleach (old 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: cailleach dheisbhéalach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear deisbhéalach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, deisbhéalacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir dheisbhéalacha; after other plurals it does not: cailleacha deisbhéalacha.
Wittier, wittiest, very witty
Tá Máire níos deisbhéalaí ná a deartháir. Máire is wittier than her brother.
| wittier | níos deisbhéalaí | in the past tense: ní ba dheisbhéalaí |
|---|---|---|
| wittiest | is deisbhéalaí | in the past tense: ba dheisbhéalaí |
| as witty as | chomh deisbhéalach le | no change after chomh |
| very witty | an-deisbhéalach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too witty | ródheisbhéalach | ró- lenites |
“Deisbhéalach” 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.
Witty in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for witty?
The Irish for witty is deisbhéalach (pronounced “DESH-vay-lukh”). It comes after the noun: fear deisbhéalach, a witty man; cailleach dheisbhéalach, a witty old woman.
How do you say wittier and wittiest in Irish?
níos deisbhéalaí is wittier and is deisbhéalaí is wittiest. In the past tense they become ní ba dheisbhéalaí and ba dheisbhéalaí.
Why does deisbhéalach become dheisbhéalach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So cailleach dheisbhéalach (a witty old woman) but fear deisbhéalach (a witty man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of deisbhéalach?
With a plural noun deisbhéalach becomes deisbhéalacha: fir dheisbhéalacha, cailleacha deisbhéalacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very witty in Irish?
an-deisbhéalach. Too witty is ródheisbhéalach, and as witty as is chomh deisbhéalach le.
What is the related noun for 'deisbhéalach'?
The noun is 'deisbhéalaí', meaning a witty person or a witty remark, as in 'Is deisbhéalaí é'.
