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Co-fhaireachdainn

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Buadhairean càileach (ro-shuidhichte)

Qualifying adjectives (before the noun)

We saw in an ‘Òran Dhòmhnaill Phàdraig Iagain’ earlier that we can put buadhairean càileach (qualifying adjectives) before the noun, and that the noun lenites.

This can be seen in luaidhean (praise, eulogies).

When someone who has died is mentioned, nach maireann (the late) is added after their name.

There are a small number of adjectives in Gaelic which are always used before a noun.

Where an adjective precedes a noun it always causes lenition where possible.

In these examples we do not place/put a hyphen between the adjective and the noun.

deagh bhoireannach

good woman

sàr bhàrd

excellent poet

Prìomh Mhinistear

First Minister

seann chaisteal

old castle

seann duine

old man/person (with seann, d, t and s do not lenite)

droch latha

bad day

fìor dhuine

genuine man

fìor dhroch dhuine

a very bad man

and let’s not forget:

corra ( + singular + lenition)

a few

corra fhear/dhuine/thè

a few men/people/women

corra fhacal

a few words

a h-uile duine (gun sèimheachadh)

everyone (no lenition)

gach duine (gun sèimheachadh)

each person (no lenition)

iomadh rud

many things (lit. many a thing)

iomadh dhòigh

many ways (lit. many a way)

iomadach dòigh (gun sèimheachadh)

many ways (lit. many a way) (no lenition)

an ath sheachdain

the following week

an-ath-sheachdain

next week

You will find more expressions with ath and ath- and lots more in [Gnàthachas Litreachaidh na Gàidhlig] (Gaelic Orthographic Conventions) or GOC as it’s more frequently called. Bookmark it in your browser!

Òrdugh nam buadhairean

The order of adjectives

However, on top of those qualifying adjectives which always come before the noun (deagh, droch, sàr, etc.), many other adjectives in Gaelic can be used before a noun for emphasis, particularly in poetry and song:

sràid àrd → àrd-shràid

high street

sùil ghorm → gorm-shùil

blue eye