HeyRuaHow to say “broken” in Irish
- Irish:
- briste
- English:
- broken, broke, broken (of language)
- Word type:
- adjective
- More broken:
- níos briste
- Most broken:
- is briste
- Pronunciation:
- “BRISH-tcheh” /bʲɾʲiʃtʲə/
What does “briste” mean?
“Briste” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- broken
- Damaged and in pieces, or no longer working.Also: smashed, shattered, out of order, damaged.
2 other meanings: broke or broken (of language)
- 2broke
- Having no money left; bankrupt.Also: bankrupt, ruined, penniless.
- 3broken (of language)
- Spoken imperfectly, with mistakes, as by a learner.Also: broken, imperfect, faulty.
“Briste” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is briste after fear (man, masculine), after cathaoir (chair, 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: cathaoir bhriste. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear briste.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, briste. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir bhriste; after other plurals it does not: cathaoireacha briste.
More broken, most broken, very broken
| more broken | níos briste | in the past tense: ní ba bhriste |
|---|---|---|
| most broken | is briste | in the past tense: ba bhriste |
| as broken as | chomh briste le | no change after chomh |
| very broken | an-bhriste | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too broken | róbhriste | ró- lenites |
“Briste” 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.
Broken in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for broken?
The Irish for broken is briste (pronounced “BRISH-tcheh”). It comes after the noun: fear briste, a broken man; cathaoir bhriste, a broken chair.
How do you say more broken and most broken in Irish?
níos briste is more broken and is briste is most broken. In the past tense they become ní ba bhriste and ba bhriste.
Why does briste become bhriste?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So cathaoir bhriste (a broken chair) but fear briste (a broken man), because fear is masculine.
How do you say very broken in Irish?
an-bhriste. Too broken is róbhriste, and as broken as is chomh briste le.
Does briste have more than one meaning?
Yes. Briste can mean broken, broke or broken (of language), depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say something is out of order in Irish?
You can say 'Tá sé briste' for a broken machine, and signs often use 'as ord' for out of order.
Can 'briste' mean having no money?
Yes, 'Tá mé briste' can mean I am broke, though 'gan pingin' is also common.
