HeyRuaHow to say “bitter” in Irish
- Irish:
- searbh
- English:
- bitter, sour
- Word type:
- adjective
- More bitter:
- níos seirbhe
- Most bitter:
- is seirbhe
- Plural:
- searbha
- Pronunciation:
- “SHAR-uv” /ˈʃaɾˠəvˠ/
What does “searbh” mean?
“Searbh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- bitter
- Having a sharp, unpleasant taste, like strong coffee or bitter herbs.Also: sharp-tasting, acrid.
2 other meanings: sour
- 2sour
- Having an acid taste, like lemon or milk that has gone off.Also: acid, tart.
- 3bitter
- Harsh, resentful or painful in feeling or words.Also: harsh, caustic, sarcastic.
“Searbh” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is searbh after caife (coffee, masculine), after deoch (drink, 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: deoch shearbh. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: caife searbh.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, searbha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: deochanna searbha.
More bitter, most bitter, very bitter
Tá an leigheas seo níos seirbhe ná an ceann eile. This medicine is more bitter than the other one.
| more bitter | níos seirbhe | in the past tense: ní ba sheirbhe |
|---|---|---|
| most bitter | is seirbhe | in the past tense: ba sheirbhe |
| as bitter as | chomh searbh le | no change after chomh |
| very bitter | an-searbh | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too bitter | róshearbh | ró- lenites |
“Searbh” 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.
Bitter in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for bitter?
The Irish for bitter is searbh (pronounced “SHAR-uv”). It comes after the noun: caife searbh, bitter coffee; deoch shearbh, a bitter drink.
How do you say more bitter and most bitter in Irish?
níos seirbhe is more bitter and is seirbhe is most bitter. In the past tense they become ní ba sheirbhe and ba sheirbhe.
Why does searbh become shearbh?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So deoch shearbh (a bitter drink) but caife searbh (bitter coffee), because caife is masculine.
What is the plural of searbh?
With a plural noun searbh becomes searbha: caifí searbha, deochanna searbha.
How do you say very bitter in Irish?
an-searbh. Too bitter is róshearbh, and as bitter as is chomh searbh le.
Does searbh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Searbh can mean bitter or sour, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'searbh' and 'géar'?
'Searbh' is mainly bitter or sour in an unpleasant way, while 'géar' is sharp or sour, as in 'bainne géar', and also means sharp like a knife.
