HeyRuaHow to say “alive” in Irish
- Irish:
- beo
- English:
- alive, lively, live, burning
- Word type:
- adjective
- More alive:
- níos beo
- Most alive:
- is beo
- Pronunciation:
- “byoe” /bʲoː/
What does “beo” mean?
“Beo” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- alive
- Living, not dead.Also: living, live.
3 other meanings: lively or live or burning
- 2lively
- Full of energy and life, active.Also: active, vivid, quick.
- 3live
- Broadcast or performed as it happens, not recorded.Also: in real time.
- 4burning
- Still glowing or burning, as of coals or embers.Also: live, glowing.
“Beo” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is beo after iasc (fish, masculine), after caora (sheep, 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: caora bheo. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: iasc beo.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, beo. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: éisc bheo, caoirigh bheo; after other plurals it does not.
More alive, most alive, very alive
| more alive | níos beo | in the past tense: ní ba bheo |
|---|---|---|
| most alive | is beo | in the past tense: ba bheo |
| as alive as | chomh beo le | no change after chomh |
| very alive | an-bheo | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too alive | róbheo | ró- lenites |
“Beo” 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.
Alive in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for alive?
The Irish for alive is beo (pronounced “byoe”). It comes after the noun: iasc beo, alive fish; caora bheo, alive sheep.
How do you say more alive and most alive in Irish?
níos beo is more alive and is beo is most alive. In the past tense they become ní ba bheo and ba bheo.
Why does beo become bheo?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So caora bheo (alive sheep) but iasc beo (alive fish), because iasc is masculine.
How do you say very alive in Irish?
an-bheo. Too alive is róbheo, and as alive as is chomh beo le.
Does beo have more than one meaning?
Yes. Beo can mean alive, lively, live or burning, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'beo' and 'beoga'?
'Beo' mainly means alive or live, while 'beoga' means lively or vivacious, as in 'duine beoga', a lively person.
What does 'níl a fhios agam beo' mean?
It is an emphatic idiom meaning 'I have no idea at all', as in 'Níl a fhios agam beo cad a tharla'.
