HeyRuaHow to say “fair” in Irish
- Irish:
- fionn
- English:
- fair, white
- Word type:
- adjective
- Fairer:
- níos finne
- Fairest:
- is finne
- Plural:
- fionna
- Pronunciation:
- “fyoon” /fʲuːn̪ˠ/
What does “fionn” mean?
“Fionn” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- fair
- Light in colour, used especially of hair or complexion.Also: blond, blonde, fair-haired, light-haired.
1 other meaning: white
- 2white
- Pale or whitish in colour, often in literary use.Also: pale, bright.
Other Irish adjectives for fair: cuibheasach (middling), féaráilte (fair)
“Fionn” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is fionn after buachaill (boy, 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 fhionn. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: buachaill fionn.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, fionna. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: mná fionna.
Fairer, fairest, very fair
Tá a cuid gruaige níos finne ná gruaig a deirféar. Her hair is fairer than her sister's hair.
| fairer | níos finne | in the past tense: ní b'fhinne |
|---|---|---|
| fairest | is finne | in the past tense: ab fhinne |
| as fair as | chomh fionn le | no change after chomh |
| very fair | an-fhionn | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too fair | rófhionn | ró- lenites |
“Fionn” 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.
Fair in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for fair?
The Irish for fair is fionn (pronounced “fyoon”). It comes after the noun: buachaill fionn, a fair boy; bean fhionn, a fair woman.
How do you say fairer and fairest in Irish?
níos finne is fairer and is finne is fairest. In the past tense they become ní b'fhinne and ab fhinne.
Why does fionn become fhionn?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean fhionn (a fair woman) but buachaill fionn (a fair boy), because buachaill is masculine.
What is the plural of fionn?
With a plural noun fionn becomes fionna: buachaillí fionna, mná fionna.
How do you say very fair in Irish?
an-fhionn. Too fair is rófhionn, and as fair as is chomh fionn le.
Does fionn have more than one meaning?
Yes. Fionn can mean fair or white, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say someone is fair-haired in Irish?
Use the noun gruaig with the adjective: Tá gruaig fhionn air, or describe the person directly as fionn, for example buachaill fionn.
Is fionn related to the name Fionn?
Yes, the name Fionn, as in Fionn mac Cumhaill, comes from the adjective fionn meaning fair or bright.
