Qualifying adjectives (before the noun)

Buadhairean càileach (ro-shuidhichte)

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