HeyRuaHow to say “critical” in Irish
- Irish:
- géibheannach
- English:
- critical, pressing
- Word type:
- adjective
- More critical:
- níos géibheannaí
- Most critical:
- is géibheannaí
- Plural:
- géibheannacha
- Pronunciation:
- “GAY-van-ukh” /ˈɟeːvʲənˠəx/
What does “géibheannach” mean?
“Géibheannach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- critical
- Describes a situation that is very serious or dangerous and needs urgent attention.Also: crucial, dire, desperate.
1 other meaning: pressing
- 2pressing
- Describes a need or problem that must be dealt with urgently.Also: urgent, acute.
Other Irish adjectives for critical: criticiúil (critical)
“Géibheannach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is géibheannach after cás (case, masculine), after céim (stage, 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: céim ghéibheannach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: cás géibheannach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, géibheannacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: céimeanna géibheannacha.
More critical, most critical, very critical
Tá an scéal níos géibheannaí inniu ná inné. The situation is more critical today than yesterday.
| more critical | níos géibheannaí | in the past tense: ní ba ghéibheannaí |
|---|---|---|
| most critical | is géibheannaí | in the past tense: ba ghéibheannaí |
| as critical as | chomh géibheannach le | no change after chomh |
| very critical | an-ghéibheannach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too critical | róghéibheannach | ró- lenites |
“Géibheannach” 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.
Critical in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for critical?
The Irish for critical is géibheannach (pronounced “GAY-van-ukh”). It comes after the noun: cás géibheannach, a critical case; céim ghéibheannach, a critical stage.
How do you say more critical and most critical in Irish?
níos géibheannaí is more critical and is géibheannaí is most critical. In the past tense they become ní ba ghéibheannaí and ba ghéibheannaí.
Why does géibheannach become ghéibheannach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So céim ghéibheannach (a critical stage) but cás géibheannach (a critical case), because cás is masculine.
What is the plural of géibheannach?
With a plural noun géibheannach becomes géibheannacha: cásanna géibheannacha, céimeanna géibheannacha.
How do you say very critical in Irish?
an-ghéibheannach. Too critical is róghéibheannach, and as critical as is chomh géibheannach le.
Does géibheannach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Géibheannach can mean critical or pressing, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Where does 'géibheannach' come from?
It is related to the noun 'géibheann', meaning bondage or distress, so 'géibheannach' describes a desperate or critical state.
How is 'géibheannach' different from 'práinneach'?
'Práinneach' simply means urgent, while 'géibheannach' stresses that a situation is dire or critical, as in 'staid ghéibheannach'.
