HeyRuaHow to say “bare” in Irish
- Irish:
- lom
- English:
- bare, close-cropped, plain, poor
- Word type:
- adjective
- Barer:
- níos loime
- Barest:
- is loime
- Plural:
- loma
- Pronunciation:
- “lowm” /l̪ˠoumˠ/
What does “lom” mean?
“Lom” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- bare
- Having no covering, such as grass, leaves, hair or clothes.Also: naked, stripped, leafless, bald.
3 other meanings: close-cropped or plain or poor
- 2close-cropped
- Cut or grazed very short, close to the skin or ground.Also: shorn, closely cut, close.
- 3plain
- Simple and direct, without ornament or softening.Also: unadorned, blunt, stark, austere.
- 4poor
- Lacking in resources or produce; barren or meagre.Also: barren, meagre, destitute.
“Lom” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is lom after crann (tree, masculine), after bean (woman, feminine) and after a plural.
séimhiú (the h) the ending
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, loma.
Barer, barest, very bare
Tá an cnoc seo níos loime ná an ceann eile. This hill is barer than the other one.
| barer | níos loime | in the past tense: ní ba loime |
|---|---|---|
| barest | is loime | in the past tense: ba loime |
| as bare as | chomh lom le | no change after chomh |
| very bare | an-lom | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too bare | rólom | ró- lenites |
“Lom” 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.
Bare in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for bare?
The Irish for bare is lom (pronounced “lowm”). It comes after the noun: crann lom, a bare tree; bean lom, a bare woman.
How do you say barer and barest in Irish?
níos loime is barer and is loime is barest. In the past tense they become ní ba loime and ba loime.
What is the plural of lom?
With a plural noun lom becomes loma: crainn loma, mná loma.
How do you say very bare in Irish?
an-lom. Too bare is rólom, and as bare as is chomh lom le.
Does lom have more than one meaning?
Yes. Lom can mean bare, close-cropped, plain or poor, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'lom' and 'nocht'?
'Nocht' usually means naked or exposed, especially of the body, while 'lom' means bare or stripped, as in 'crann lom' (a bare tree) or 'an fhírinne lom' (the plain truth).
What does 'lom láithreach' mean?
'Lom láithreach' is an adverbial phrase meaning immediately or straight away.
