HeyRuaHow to say “curious” in Irish
- Irish:
- fiosrach
- English:
- curious, nosy
- Word type:
- adjective
- More curious:
- níos fiosraí
- Most curious:
- is fiosraí
- Plural:
- fiosracha
- Pronunciation:
- “FISS-ruh-ukh” /ˈfʲɪsˠɾˠəx/
What does “fiosrach” mean?
“Fiosrach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- curious
- Wanting to know or learn about things.Also: inquisitive, inquiring, questioning.
1 other meaning: nosy
- 2nosy
- Too interested in other people's business.Also: prying, inquisitive.
“Fiosrach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is fiosrach after páiste (child, masculine), after girseach (girl, 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: girseach fhiosrach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: páiste fiosrach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, fiosracha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: girseacha fiosracha.
More curious, most curious, very curious
Tá an cat níos fiosraí ná an madra. The cat is more curious than the dog.
| more curious | níos fiosraí | in the past tense: ní b'fhiosraí |
|---|---|---|
| most curious | is fiosraí | in the past tense: ab fhiosraí |
| as curious as | chomh fiosrach le | no change after chomh |
| very curious | an-fhiosrach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too curious | rófhiosrach | ró- lenites |
“Fiosrach” 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.
Curious in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for curious?
The Irish for curious is fiosrach (pronounced “FISS-ruh-ukh”). It comes after the noun: páiste fiosrach, a curious child; girseach fhiosrach, a curious girl.
How do you say more curious and most curious in Irish?
níos fiosraí is more curious and is fiosraí is most curious. In the past tense they become ní b'fhiosraí and ab fhiosraí.
Why does fiosrach become fhiosrach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So girseach fhiosrach (a curious girl) but páiste fiosrach (a curious child), because páiste is masculine.
What is the plural of fiosrach?
With a plural noun fiosrach becomes fiosracha: páistí fiosracha, girseacha fiosracha.
How do you say very curious in Irish?
an-fhiosrach. Too curious is rófhiosrach, and as curious as is chomh fiosrach le.
Does fiosrach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Fiosrach can mean curious or nosy, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Does 'fiosrach' mean 'curious' in the sense of 'strange'?
No, 'fiosrach' describes a person who wants to know things. For 'strange' or 'odd' use 'aisteach' or 'ait'.
How do I say 'curious about something'?
Use 'faoi': 'Tá sé fiosrach faoin scéal' means 'He is curious about the story'.
