HeyRuaHow to say “worldly” in Irish
- Irish:
- saolta
- English:
- worldly, secular, respectable
- Word type:
- adjective
- Worldlier:
- níos saolta
- Worldliest:
- is saolta
- Pronunciation:
- “SAYL-ta” /ˈsˠeːl̪ˠt̪ˠə/
What does “saolta” mean?
“Saolta” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- worldly
- Concerned with ordinary life and material things rather than spiritual matters.Also: mundane, earthly, temporal.
2 other meanings: secular or respectable
- 2secular
- Not religious or belonging to the Church; lay.Also: lay, non-religious.
- 3respectable
- Decent and well-to-do in the eyes of the world.Also: decent, well-off.
“Saolta” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is saolta after duine (person, 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 shaolta. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: duine saolta.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, saolta. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: girseacha saolta.
Worldlier, worldliest, very worldly
Tá an tír níos saolta anois ná riamh. The country is more secular now than ever.
| worldlier | níos saolta | in the past tense: ní ba shaolta |
|---|---|---|
| worldliest | is saolta | in the past tense: ba shaolta |
| as worldly as | chomh saolta le | no change after chomh |
| very worldly | an-saolta | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too worldly | róshaolta | ró- lenites |
“Saolta” 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.
Worldly in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for worldly?
The Irish for worldly is saolta (pronounced “SAYL-ta”). It comes after the noun: duine saolta, a worldly person; girseach shaolta, a worldly girl.
How do you say worldlier and worldliest in Irish?
níos saolta is worldlier and is saolta is worldliest. In the past tense they become ní ba shaolta and ba shaolta.
Why does saolta become shaolta?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So girseach shaolta (a worldly girl) but duine saolta (a worldly person), because duine is masculine.
How do you say very worldly in Irish?
an-saolta. Too worldly is róshaolta, and as worldly as is chomh saolta le.
Does saolta have more than one meaning?
Yes. Saolta can mean worldly, secular or respectable, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between saolta and domhanda?
Saolta means worldly or secular, as opposed to spiritual, while domhanda usually means global or worldwide, as in cogadh domhanda.
