an- + Adjective

Very with an-

Level 2

An- intensifies an adjective and often causes lenition: an-mhaith. Its spelling and dental-cluster exceptions matter.

How It Works

An- intensifies an adjective and often causes lenition: an-mhaith. Its spelling and dental-cluster exceptions matter.

The intensifying prefix an- is written with a hyphen. It normally lenites an eligible following adjective, as in an-mhaith and an-bheag. Dental sound restrictions explain forms such as an-deas; do not insert h mechanically after every initial consonant.

Examples (3)

  1. Tá sé an-mhaith.

    It is very good.

  2. Tá an teach an-bheag.

    The house is very small.

  3. Tá sí an-deas.

    She is very nice.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

an- + AdjectiveLevel 2Very with an-

Learn This First

Recognize lenition and its limits in the intensifying prefix construction.

Words in This Pattern

an-