HeyRuaHow to say “dead” in Irish
- Irish:
- marbh
- English:
- dead, numb, lifeless
- Word type:
- adjective
- More dead:
- níos mairbhe
- Most dead:
- is mairbhe
- Plural:
- marbha
- Pronunciation:
- “MAR-uv” /mˠaɾˠəvˠ/
What does “marbh” mean?
“Marbh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- dead
- No longer alive.Also: lifeless, deceased.
2 other meanings: numb or lifeless
- 2numb
- Without feeling, as of a limb or body part.Also: without feeling, dead.
- 3lifeless
- Dull and without energy or activity, as of a place or a time.Also: dull, inactive, slack.
“Marbh” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is marbh after madra (dog, masculine), after bó (cow, 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: bó mharbh. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: madra marbh.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, marbha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: ba marbha.
More dead, most dead, very dead
| more dead | níos mairbhe | in the past tense: ní ba mhairbhe |
|---|---|---|
| most dead | is mairbhe | in the past tense: ba mhairbhe |
| as dead as | chomh marbh le | no change after chomh |
| very dead | an-mharbh | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too dead | rómharbh | ró- lenites |
“Marbh” 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.
Dead in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for dead?
The Irish for dead is marbh (pronounced “MAR-uv”). It comes after the noun: madra marbh, a dead dog; bó mharbh, a dead cow.
How do you say more dead and most dead in Irish?
níos mairbhe is more dead and is mairbhe is most dead. In the past tense they become ní ba mhairbhe and ba mhairbhe.
Why does marbh become mharbh?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bó mharbh (a dead cow) but madra marbh (a dead dog), because madra is masculine.
What is the plural of marbh?
With a plural noun marbh becomes marbha: madraí marbha, ba marbha.
How do you say very dead in Irish?
an-mharbh. Too dead is rómharbh, and as dead as is chomh marbh le.
Does marbh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Marbh can mean dead, numb or lifeless, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say someone has died, rather than is dead?
Use the verb: 'fuair sé bás' or 'cailleadh é' means he died, while 'tá sé marbh' describes the state of being dead.
What does 'na mairbh' mean?
'Na mairbh' is the noun meaning the dead, as in 'slua na marbh', the host of the dead.
