HeyRuaHow to say “fine” in Irish
- Irish:
- breá
- English:
- fine, fine (weather), well, handsome
- Word type:
- adjective
- Finer:
- níos breátha
- Finest:
- is breátha
- Plural:
- breátha
- Pronunciation:
- “braw” /bʲɾʲɑː/
What does “breá” mean?
“Breá” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- fine
- Of good quality, pleasant or excellent.Also: excellent, splendid, grand, lovely.
3 other meanings: fine (weather) or well or handsome
- 2fine (weather)
- Of weather or a day: bright, dry and pleasant.Also: fine, sunny, bright, nice.
- 3well
- Used with 'go' to say someone or something is well or all right.Also: fine, all right, okay.
- 4handsome
- Of a person: good-looking and well built.Also: fine-looking, beautiful, attractive.
Other Irish adjectives for fine: maith (good), fíneálta (fine)
“Is breá liom”: I love
Is breá liom is I love, for things, places and activities; for a person you say tá grá agam duit.
Is breá liom ceol. I love music.
Is breá léi an samhradh. She loves the summer.
Similar phrases: is maith liom (I like), is aoibhinn liom (I adore), taitníonn sé liom (I like it).
“Breá” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is breá after lá (day, masculine), after oíche (night, 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: oíche bhreá. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: lá breá.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, breátha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: oícheanta breátha.
Finer, finest, very fine
| finer | níos breátha | in the past tense: ní ba bhreátha |
|---|---|---|
| finest | is breátha | in the past tense: ba bhreátha |
| as fine as | chomh breá le | no change after chomh |
| very fine | an-bhreá | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too fine | róbhreá | ró- lenites |
“Breá” in a sentence: Irish examples
With a masculine noun, a feminine noun, a plural, a comparison and on its own.
Phrases with breá: Tá mé go breá (I'm grand), Tá mé go breá (I'm fine), Is breá an lá é (it's a fine day)
Other adjectives in Irish
More everyday Irish adjectives to learn next.
Phrases with “breá”
Fine in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for fine?
The Irish for fine is breá (pronounced “braw”). It comes after the noun: lá breá, a fine day; oíche bhreá, a fine night.
How do you say I love it in Irish?
Is breá liom é or, warmer still, is aoibhinn liom é. For a person you say Tá grá agam duit, I love you. I would love to… is Ba bhreá liom…
How do you say finer and finest in Irish?
níos breátha is finer and is breátha is finest. In the past tense they become ní ba bhreátha and ba bhreátha.
Why does breá become bhreá?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So oíche bhreá (a fine night) but lá breá (a fine day), because lá is masculine.
What is the plural of breá?
With a plural noun breá becomes breátha: laethanta breátha, oícheanta breátha.
How do you say very fine in Irish?
an-bhreá. Too fine is róbhreá, and as fine as is chomh breá le.
Does breá have more than one meaning?
Yes. Breá can mean fine, fine (weather), well or handsome, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What does 'Is breá liom' mean?
'Is breá liom' means 'I love' or 'I really like', and is stronger than 'Is maith liom': 'Is breá liom ceol' means 'I love music'.
How do I say 'I'm fine' in Irish?
Say 'Tá mé go breá', using 'go' before 'breá' when it is a predicate describing how someone is.
