HeyRuaHow to say “dearest” in Irish
- Irish:
- ansa
- English:
- dearest
- Word type:
- adjective
- More dearest:
- níos ansa
- Most dearest:
- is ansa
- Pronunciation:
- “AN-sa” /ˈan̪ˠsˠə/
What does “ansa” mean?
- dearest
- Most loved or most liked; usually used as 'is ansa liom', meaning my favourite.Also: favourite, beloved, most loved, dear.
“Ansa” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is ansa after leabhar (book, masculine), after bean (woman, feminine) and after a plural.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, ansa.
More dearest, most dearest, very dearest
| more dearest | níos ansa | in the past tense: ní b'ansa |
|---|---|---|
| most dearest | is ansa | in the past tense: ab ansa |
| as dearest as | chomh hansa le | chomh puts an h before a vowel |
| very dearest | an-ansa | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too dearest | ró-ansa | ró- lenites |
“Ansa” in a sentence: Irish examples
With a masculine noun, a feminine noun, a plural, a comparison and on its own.
Phrases with ansa: Is tú is ansa liom (you are my everything)
Other adjectives in Irish
More everyday Irish adjectives to learn next.
Phrases with “ansa”
Dearest in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for dearest?
The Irish for dearest is ansa (pronounced “AN-sa”). It comes after the noun: leabhar ansa, a dearest book; bean ansa, a dearest woman.
How do you say more dearest and most dearest in Irish?
níos ansa is more dearest and is ansa is most dearest. In the past tense they become ní b'ansa and ab ansa.
How do you say very dearest in Irish?
an-ansa. Too dearest is ró-ansa, and as dearest as is chomh hansa le.
How do I say 'my favourite' with ansa?
Use the superlative construction with 'le': 'an t-ábhar is ansa liom' means my favourite subject. It is almost always found with 'is' and 'le'.
Is ansa the same as 'is fearr liom'?
They overlap: 'is fearr liom' is the everyday way to say I prefer, while 'is ansa liom' is more literary and stresses affection.
