HeyRuaHow to say “busy” in Irish
- Irish:
- broidiúil
- English:
- busy, pressing
- Word type:
- adjective
- Busier:
- níos broidiúla
- Busiest:
- is broidiúla
- Plural:
- broidiúla
- Pronunciation:
- “BRID-yoo-il” /ˈbˠɾˠɪdʲuːlʲ/
What does “broidiúil” mean?
“Broidiúil” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- busy
- Having a lot to do, pressed for time or occupied with work.Also: pressed, occupied, hard-pressed.
“Broidiúil” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is broidiúil after fear (man, masculine), after bean (woman, 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: bean bhroidiúil. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear broidiúil.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, broidiúla. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir bhroidiúla; after other plurals it does not: mná broidiúla.
Busier, busiest, very busy
Tá mé níos broidiúla anois ná riamh. I am busier now than ever.
| busier | níos broidiúla | in the past tense: ní ba bhroidiúla |
|---|---|---|
| busiest | is broidiúla | in the past tense: ba bhroidiúla |
| as busy as | chomh broidiúil le | no change after chomh |
| very busy | an-bhroidiúil | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too busy | róbhroidiúil | ró- lenites |
“Broidiúil” 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.
Busy in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for busy?
The Irish for busy is broidiúil (pronounced “BRID-yoo-il”). It comes after the noun: fear broidiúil, a busy man; bean bhroidiúil, a busy woman.
How do you say busier and busiest in Irish?
níos broidiúla is busier and is broidiúla is busiest. In the past tense they become ní ba bhroidiúla and ba bhroidiúla.
Why does broidiúil become bhroidiúil?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean bhroidiúil (a busy woman) but fear broidiúil (a busy man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of broidiúil?
With a plural noun broidiúil becomes broidiúla: fir bhroidiúla, mná broidiúla. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very busy in Irish?
an-bhroidiúil. Too busy is róbhroidiúil, and as busy as is chomh broidiúil le.
Does broidiúil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Broidiúil can mean busy or pressing, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'broidiúil' and 'gnóthach'?
Both mean busy, but 'gnóthach' is the more common everyday word, while 'broidiúil' suggests being pressed or hard-pressed for time.
