HeyRuaHow to say “elderly” in Irish
- Irish:
- bunaosta
- English:
- elderly, middle-aged
- Word type:
- adjective
- More elderly:
- níos bunaosta
- Most elderly:
- is bunaosta
- Pronunciation:
- “BUN-ees-ta” /ˈbʊnˌiːst̪ˠə/
What does “bunaosta” mean?
“Bunaosta” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- elderly
- Getting on in years, past middle age but not very old.Also: oldish, fairly old, getting on.
1 other meaning: middle-aged
- 2middle-aged
- Of a person, no longer young, around middle age or older.Also: mature, not young.
Other Irish adjectives for elderly: breacaosta (middle-aged), scothaosta (elderly)
“Bunaosta” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is bunaosta after fear (man, masculine), after bean (woman, 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: bean bhunaosta. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear bunaosta.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, bunaosta. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir bhunaosta; after other plurals it does not: mná bunaosta.
More elderly, most elderly, very elderly
| more elderly | níos bunaosta | in the past tense: ní ba bhunaosta |
|---|---|---|
| most elderly | is bunaosta | in the past tense: ba bhunaosta |
| as elderly as | chomh bunaosta le | no change after chomh |
| very elderly | an-bhunaosta | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too elderly | róbhunaosta | ró- lenites |
“Bunaosta” 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.
Elderly in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for elderly?
The Irish for elderly is bunaosta (pronounced “BUN-ees-ta”). It comes after the noun: fear bunaosta, an elderly man; bean bhunaosta, an elderly woman.
How do you say more elderly and most elderly in Irish?
níos bunaosta is more elderly and is bunaosta is most elderly. In the past tense they become ní ba bhunaosta and ba bhunaosta.
Why does bunaosta become bhunaosta?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean bhunaosta (an elderly woman) but fear bunaosta (an elderly man), because fear is masculine.
How do you say very elderly in Irish?
an-bhunaosta. Too elderly is róbhunaosta, and as elderly as is chomh bunaosta le.
Does bunaosta have more than one meaning?
Yes. Bunaosta can mean elderly or middle-aged, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is 'bunaosta' different from 'aosta'?
'Aosta' means old or aged, while 'bunaosta' softens it to elderly or fairly old, getting on in years.
