HeyRuaHow to say “certain” in Irish
- Irish:
- dearbh
- English:
- certain, absolute
- Word type:
- adjective
- More certain:
- níos deirbhe
- Most certain:
- is deirbhe
- Plural:
- dearbha
- Pronunciation:
- “DJAR-uv” /dʲaɾˠəvˠ/
What does “dearbh” mean?
“Dearbh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- certain
- Sure and beyond doubt; definite.Also: sure, definite, assured.
“Dearbh” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is dearbh after scéal (story, masculine), after fianaise (evidence, 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: fianaise dhearbh. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: scéal dearbh.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, dearbha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: fianaisí dearbha.
More certain, most certain, very certain
Tá an scéal seo níos deirbhe ná an ceann eile. This story is more certain than the other one.
| more certain | níos deirbhe | in the past tense: ní ba dheirbhe |
|---|---|---|
| most certain | is deirbhe | in the past tense: ba dheirbhe |
| as certain as | chomh dearbh le | no change after chomh |
| very certain | an-dearbh | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too certain | ródhearbh | ró- lenites |
“Dearbh” 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.
Certain in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for certain?
The Irish for certain is dearbh (pronounced “DJAR-uv”). It comes after the noun: scéal dearbh, a certain story; fianaise dhearbh, certain evidence.
How do you say more certain and most certain in Irish?
níos deirbhe is more certain and is deirbhe is most certain. In the past tense they become ní ba dheirbhe and ba dheirbhe.
Why does dearbh become dhearbh?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So fianaise dhearbh (certain evidence) but scéal dearbh (a certain story), because scéal is masculine.
What is the plural of dearbh?
With a plural noun dearbh becomes dearbha: scéalta dearbha, fianaisí dearbha.
How do you say very certain in Irish?
an-dearbh. Too certain is ródhearbh, and as certain as is chomh dearbh le.
Does dearbh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Dearbh can mean certain or absolute, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Is 'dearbh' the same as 'cinnte'?
Both mean certain, but 'cinnte' is the everyday word, while 'dearbh' is more formal or literary and is common in the phrase 'go dearbh' (certainly) and compounds like 'dearbhluach'.
