HeyRuaHow to say “worthwhile” in Irish
- Irish:
- fiúntach
- English:
- worthwhile, worthy, generous
- Word type:
- adjective
- More worthwhile:
- níos fiúntaí
- Most worthwhile:
- is fiúntaí
- Plural:
- fiúntacha
- Pronunciation:
- “FOON-tukh” /ˈfʲuːn̪ˠt̪ˠəx/
What does “fiúntach” mean?
“Fiúntach” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- worthwhile
- Having value or being worth the time and effort.Also: valuable, useful, of value.
2 other meanings: worthy or generous
- 2worthy
- Deserving respect because of good character or quality.Also: respectable, decent, estimable.
- 3generous
- Kind and free in giving to others.Also: liberal, open-handed.
“Fiúntach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is fiúntach after saothar (work, masculine), after obair (work, 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: obair fhiúntach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: saothar fiúntach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, fiúntacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: saothair fhiúntacha; after other plurals it does not: oibreacha fiúntacha.
More worthwhile, most worthwhile, very worthwhile
Tá an tionscadal seo níos fiúntaí ná an ceann eile. This project is more worthwhile than the other one.
| more worthwhile | níos fiúntaí | in the past tense: ní b'fhiúntaí |
|---|---|---|
| most worthwhile | is fiúntaí | in the past tense: ab fhiúntaí |
| as worthwhile as | chomh fiúntach le | no change after chomh |
| very worthwhile | an-fhiúntach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too worthwhile | rófhiúntach | ró- lenites |
“Fiúntach” 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.
Worthwhile in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for worthwhile?
The Irish for worthwhile is fiúntach (pronounced “FOON-tukh”). It comes after the noun: saothar fiúntach, worthwhile work; obair fhiúntach, worthwhile work.
How do you say more worthwhile and most worthwhile in Irish?
níos fiúntaí is more worthwhile and is fiúntaí is most worthwhile. In the past tense they become ní b'fhiúntaí and ab fhiúntaí.
Why does fiúntach become fhiúntach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So obair fhiúntach (worthwhile work) but saothar fiúntach (worthwhile work), because saothar is masculine.
What is the plural of fiúntach?
With a plural noun fiúntach becomes fiúntacha: saothair fhiúntacha, oibreacha fiúntacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very worthwhile in Irish?
an-fhiúntach. Too worthwhile is rófhiúntach, and as worthwhile as is chomh fiúntach le.
Does fiúntach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Fiúntach can mean worthwhile, worthy or generous, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is 'fiúntach' related to 'fiú'?
'Fiúntach' comes from 'fiú' (worth), as in 'is fiú é' (it is worth it); 'fiúntach' describes something that is worthwhile.
