HeyRuaHow to say “expensive” in Irish
- Irish:
- costasach
- English:
- expensive, sumptuous
- Word type:
- adjective
- More expensive:
- níos costasaí
- Most expensive:
- is costasaí
- Plural:
- costasacha
- Pronunciation:
- “KUS-tuss-ukh” /ˈkɔst̪ˠəsˠəx/
What does “costasach” mean?
“Costasach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- expensive
- Costing a lot of money.Also: costly, dear, pricey.
1 other meaning: sumptuous
- 2sumptuous
- Lavish and extravagant, involving great expense.Also: lavish, extravagant.
Other Irish adjectives for expensive: daor (expensive)
“Costasach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is costasach after carr (car, masculine), after bróg (shoe, 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: bróg chostasach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: carr costasach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, costasacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: bróga costasacha.
More expensive, most expensive, very expensive
Tá an t-óstán seo níos costasaí ná an ceann eile. This hotel is more expensive than the other one.
| more expensive | níos costasaí | in the past tense: ní ba chostasaí |
|---|---|---|
| most expensive | is costasaí | in the past tense: ba chostasaí |
| as expensive as | chomh costasach le | no change after chomh |
| very expensive | an-chostasach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too expensive | róchostasach | ró- lenites |
“Costasach” 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.
Expensive in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for expensive?
The Irish for expensive is costasach (pronounced “KUS-tuss-ukh”). It comes after the noun: carr costasach, an expensive car; bróg chostasach, an expensive shoe.
How do you say more expensive and most expensive in Irish?
níos costasaí is more expensive and is costasaí is most expensive. In the past tense they become ní ba chostasaí and ba chostasaí.
Why does costasach become chostasach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bróg chostasach (an expensive shoe) but carr costasach (an expensive car), because carr is masculine.
What is the plural of costasach?
With a plural noun costasach becomes costasacha: carranna costasacha, bróga costasacha.
How do you say very expensive in Irish?
an-chostasach. Too expensive is róchostasach, and as expensive as is chomh costasach le.
Does costasach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Costasach can mean expensive or sumptuous, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between costasach and daor?
Both mean expensive; daor is the more everyday word (Tá sé daor), while costasach suggests something that involves great cost or expense.
