HeyRuaHow to say “wretched” in Irish
- Irish:
- dearóil
- English:
- wretched, puny, bleak
- Word type:
- adjective
- More wretched:
- níos dearóile
- Most wretched:
- is dearóile
- Plural:
- dearóile
- Pronunciation:
- “DJA-role” /ˈdʲaɾˠoːlʲ/
What does “dearóil” mean?
“Dearóil” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- wretched
- Poor, miserable and pitiful in condition or appearance.Also: miserable, forlorn, pitiful.
2 other meanings: puny or bleak
- 2puny
- Small, weak and insignificant.Also: weak, feeble, insignificant.
- 3bleak
- Dreary and cheerless, said of a place or weather.Also: dreary, desolate.
Other Irish adjectives for wretched: ainnis (miserable)
“Dearóil” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is dearóil after teach (house, masculine), after oíche (night, 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: oíche dhearóil. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: teach dearóil.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, dearóile. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: oícheanta dearóile.
More wretched, most wretched, very wretched
Bhí an áit níos dearóile ná riamh. The place was more wretched than ever.
| more wretched | níos dearóile | in the past tense: ní ba dhearóile |
|---|---|---|
| most wretched | is dearóile | in the past tense: ba dhearóile |
| as wretched as | chomh dearóil le | no change after chomh |
| very wretched | an-dearóil | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too wretched | ródhearóil | ró- lenites |
“Dearóil” 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.
Wretched in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for wretched?
The Irish for wretched is dearóil (pronounced “DJA-role”). It comes after the noun: teach dearóil, a wretched house; oíche dhearóil, a wretched night.
How do you say more wretched and most wretched in Irish?
níos dearóile is more wretched and is dearóile is most wretched. In the past tense they become ní ba dhearóile and ba dhearóile.
Why does dearóil become dhearóil?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So oíche dhearóil (a wretched night) but teach dearóil (a wretched house), because teach is masculine.
What is the plural of dearóil?
With a plural noun dearóil becomes dearóile: tithe dearóile, oícheanta dearóile.
How do you say very wretched in Irish?
an-dearóil. Too wretched is ródhearóil, and as wretched as is chomh dearóil le.
Does dearóil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Dearóil can mean wretched, puny or bleak, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is 'dearóil' different from 'bocht'?
'Bocht' is the everyday word for poor, while 'dearóil' stresses a wretched, pitiful or puny state, as in 'duine dearóil', a wretched person.
