HeyRuaHow to say “busy” in Irish
- Irish:
- cruógach
- English:
- busy, urgent
- Word type:
- adjective
- Busier:
- níos cruógaí
- Busiest:
- is cruógaí
- Plural:
- cruógacha
- Pronunciation:
- “KROO-oh-gukh” /ˈkɾuːoːɡəx/
What does “cruógach” mean?
“Cruógach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- busy
- Having a lot to do and being occupied with work or tasks.Also: occupied, engaged, hard-pressed.
“Cruógach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is cruógach 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 chruógach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear cruógach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, cruógacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir chruógacha; after other plurals it does not: mná cruógacha.
Busier, busiest, very busy
Tá mé níos cruógaí anois ná riamh. I am busier now than ever.
| busier | níos cruógaí | in the past tense: ní ba chruógaí |
|---|---|---|
| busiest | is cruógaí | in the past tense: ba chruógaí |
| as busy as | chomh cruógach le | no change after chomh |
| very busy | an-chruógach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too busy | róchruógach | ró- lenites |
“Cruógach” 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 cruógach (pronounced “KROO-oh-gukh”). It comes after the noun: fear cruógach, a busy man; bean chruógach, a busy woman.
How do you say busier and busiest in Irish?
níos cruógaí is busier and is cruógaí is busiest. In the past tense they become ní ba chruógaí and ba chruógaí.
Why does cruógach become chruógach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean chruógach (a busy woman) but fear cruógach (a busy man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of cruógach?
With a plural noun cruógach becomes cruógacha: fir chruógacha, mná cruógacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very busy in Irish?
an-chruógach. Too busy is róchruógach, and as busy as is chomh cruógach le.
Does cruógach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cruógach can mean busy or urgent, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between cruógach and gnóthach?
Both mean busy; gnóthach is the more common everyday word, while cruógach is used especially in Connacht and Munster and can also suggest something pressing.
