HeyRuaHow to say “active” in Irish
- Irish:
- gníomhach
- English:
- active, acting, active (grammar)
- Word type:
- adjective
- More active:
- níos gníomhaí
- Most active:
- is gníomhaí
- Plural:
- gníomhacha
- Pronunciation:
- “GNEE-uh-wukh” /ˈɟnʲiːəwəx/
What does “gníomhach” mean?
“Gníomhach” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- active
- Busy doing things, energetic and taking part.Also: energetic, busy, involved.
2 other meanings: acting or active (grammar)
- 2acting
- Holding a post temporarily in place of someone else, as in an acting manager.Also: temporary, stand-in.
- 3active (grammar)
- Describing the active voice of a verb.Also: active, active voice.
“Gníomhach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is gníomhach after ball (member, masculine), after bean (woman, 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: bean ghníomhach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: ball gníomhach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, gníomhacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: baill ghníomhacha; after other plurals it does not: mná gníomhacha.
More active, most active, very active
Tá sí níos gníomhaí ná a deartháir. She is more active than her brother.
| more active | níos gníomhaí | in the past tense: ní ba ghníomhaí |
|---|---|---|
| most active | is gníomhaí | in the past tense: ba ghníomhaí |
| as active as | chomh gníomhach le | no change after chomh |
| very active | an-ghníomhach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too active | róghníomhach | ró- lenites |
“Gníomhach” 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.
Active in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for active?
The Irish for active is gníomhach (pronounced “GNEE-uh-wukh”). It comes after the noun: ball gníomhach, an active member; bean ghníomhach, an active woman.
How do you say more active and most active in Irish?
níos gníomhaí is more active and is gníomhaí is most active. In the past tense they become ní ba ghníomhaí and ba ghníomhaí.
Why does gníomhach become ghníomhach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean ghníomhach (an active woman) but ball gníomhach (an active member), because ball is masculine.
What is the plural of gníomhach?
With a plural noun gníomhach becomes gníomhacha: baill ghníomhacha, mná gníomhacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very active in Irish?
an-ghníomhach. Too active is róghníomhach, and as active as is chomh gníomhach le.
Does gníomhach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Gníomhach can mean active, acting or active (grammar), depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the opposite of 'gníomhach'?
Use 'neamhghníomhach' for inactive, or 'éighníomhach' for passive, as in 'an fhaí chéasta' for the passive voice in grammar.
How do I say someone is active in something?
Use 'i': 'Tá sí gníomhach i gcúrsaí polaitíochta' means she is active in politics.
