greannach

Irish

Etymology

From Old Irish grendach, grennach (“hairy, bristly, rough”). By surface analysis, greann (“bristly hair”) +‎ -ach.

Pronunciation

• (Connacht) IPA^(key): /ˈɟrʲan̪ˠəx/
• (Ulster) IPA^(key): /ˈɟrʲan̪ˠa(h)/

Adjective

greannach (genitive singular masculine greannaigh, genitive singular feminine greannaí, plural greannacha, comparative greannaí)

1. hairy, bristly
2. bristling, ruffled, irritated
3. rough, combative, challenging, defiant
4. (medicine) irritating

Declension

Declension of greannach

	singular		plural (m/f)
Positive	masculine	feminine	(strong noun)	(weak noun)
nominative	greannach	ghreannach	greannacha; ghreannacha2
vocative	ghreannaigh		greannacha
genitive		greannaí	greannacha	greannach
dative	greannach; ghreannach1	ghreannach; ghreannaigh (archaic)	greannacha; ghreannacha2
Comparative	níos greannaí
Superlative	is greannaí

¹ When the preceding noun is lenited and governed by the definite article.
² When the preceding noun ends in a slender consonant.

Synonyms

• greannmhar

Mutation

Mutated forms of greannach

radical	lenition	eclipsis
greannach	ghreannach	ngreannach

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Modern Irish.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

From Old Irish grendach, grennach (“hairy, bristly, rough”). By surface analysis, greann (“bristly hair”) +‎ -ach.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡ̊ɾʲɛn̪ˠəx/
• (Lewis) IPA^(key): /ˈɡ̊ðãn̪ˠəx/

Adjective

greannach (comparative grennaiche)

1. hairy, bristly
2. grumpy, irascible

   Bha i cho greannach an-dè. ― She was so grumpy yesterday.

3. lowery, gloomy

   'S e feasgar greannach Earraich a bh’ann. ― It was a gloomy spring evening.

Derived terms

• cho greannach ri biast-dhubh ann an càrn (“as irritable as a wet cat”)
• càl-greannach (“curly kale”)

Mutation

Mutation of greannach

radical	lenition
greannach	ghreannach

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Scottish Gaelic.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.