HeyRuaHow to say “barren” in Irish
- Irish:
- seasc
- English:
- barren, dry, unproductive
- Word type:
- adjective
- More barren:
- níos seisce
- Most barren:
- is seisce
- Plural:
- seasca
- Pronunciation:
- “shask” /ʃask/
What does “seasc” mean?
“Seasc” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- barren
- Not able to produce young or offspring; used especially of animals.Also: infertile, sterile.
2 other meanings: dry or unproductive
- 2dry
- Of a cow or other animal, not giving milk.Also: not milking, yeld.
- 3unproductive
- Producing no result or fruit; fruitless.Also: fruitless, unfruitful, sterile.
“Seasc” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is seasc after talamh (ground, masculine), after bó (cow, 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: bó sheasc. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: talamh seasc.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, seasca. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: ba seasca.
More barren, most barren, very barren
Tá an talamh seo níos seisce ná an talamh thall. This land is more barren than the land over there.
| more barren | níos seisce | in the past tense: ní ba sheisce |
|---|---|---|
| most barren | is seisce | in the past tense: ba sheisce |
| as barren as | chomh seasc le | no change after chomh |
| very barren | an-seasc | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too barren | rósheasc | ró- lenites |
“Seasc” 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.
Barren in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for barren?
The Irish for barren is seasc (pronounced “shask”). It comes after the noun: talamh seasc, a barren ground; bó sheasc, a barren cow.
How do you say more barren and most barren in Irish?
níos seisce is more barren and is seisce is most barren. In the past tense they become ní ba sheisce and ba sheisce.
Why does seasc become sheasc?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bó sheasc (a barren cow) but talamh seasc (a barren ground), because talamh is masculine.
What is the plural of seasc?
With a plural noun seasc becomes seasca: tailte seasca, ba seasca.
How do you say very barren in Irish?
an-seasc. Too barren is rósheasc, and as barren as is chomh seasc le.
Does seasc have more than one meaning?
Yes. Seasc can mean barren, dry or unproductive, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'seasc' and 'aimrid'?
Both mean barren, but 'seasc' is used especially of livestock, as in 'bó sheasc', a cow not in milk, while 'aimrid' is the more general word for sterile or barren, also used of people and land.
