HeyRuaHow to say “bright” in Irish
- Irish:
- soilseach
- English:
- bright, clear
- Word type:
- adjective
- Brighter:
- níos soilsí
- Brightest:
- is soilsí
- Plural:
- soilseacha
- Pronunciation:
- “SIL-shukh” /ˈsˠɪlʲʃəx/
What does “soilseach” mean?
“Soilseach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- bright
- Giving off or full of light; shining.Also: luminous, shining, lit up, radiant.
“Soilseach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is soilseach after seomra (room, masculine), after oifig (office, 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: oifig shoilseach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: seomra soilseach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, soilseacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: oifigí soilseacha.
Brighter, brightest, very bright
Tá an chistin níos soilsí ná an seomra suí. The kitchen is brighter than the sitting room.
| brighter | níos soilsí | in the past tense: ní ba shoilsí |
|---|---|---|
| brightest | is soilsí | in the past tense: ba shoilsí |
| as bright as | chomh soilseach le | no change after chomh |
| very bright | an-soilseach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too bright | róshoilseach | ró- lenites |
“Soilseach” 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.
Bright in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for bright?
The Irish for bright is soilseach (pronounced “SIL-shukh”). It comes after the noun: seomra soilseach, a bright room; oifig shoilseach, a bright office.
How do you say brighter and brightest in Irish?
níos soilsí is brighter and is soilsí is brightest. In the past tense they become ní ba shoilsí and ba shoilsí.
Why does soilseach become shoilseach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So oifig shoilseach (a bright office) but seomra soilseach (a bright room), because seomra is masculine.
What is the plural of soilseach?
With a plural noun soilseach becomes soilseacha: seomraí soilseacha, oifigí soilseacha.
How do you say very bright in Irish?
an-soilseach. Too bright is róshoilseach, and as bright as is chomh soilseach le.
Does soilseach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Soilseach can mean bright or clear, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'soilseach' and 'geal'?
'Geal' is the everyday word for bright or white, while 'soilseach' stresses giving off or being full of light, like 'seomra soilseach', a well-lit room.
