HeyRuaHow to say “foul” in Irish
- Irish:
- bréan
- English:
- foul, fed up, polluted
- Word type:
- adjective
- Fouler:
- níos bréine
- Foulest:
- is bréine
- Plural:
- bréana
- Pronunciation:
- “brain” /bʲɾʲeːnˠ/
What does “bréan” mean?
“Bréan” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- foul
- Having a rotten, disgusting smell or taste.Also: fetid, stinking, rancid, putrid, rotten.
2 other meanings: fed up or polluted
- 2fed up
- Tired of and annoyed by something, used with 'de'.Also: sick of, tired of, weary of.
- 3polluted
- Dirty and contaminated, especially of water or air.Also: filthy, contaminated.
“Bréan” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is bréan after boladh (smell, masculine), after feoil (meat, 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: feoil bhréan. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: boladh bréan.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, bréana. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: feolta bréana.
Fouler, foulest, very foul
Tá an t-uisce seo níos bréine ná an t-uisce eile. This water is fouler than the other water.
| fouler | níos bréine | in the past tense: ní ba bhréine |
|---|---|---|
| foulest | is bréine | in the past tense: ba bhréine |
| as foul as | chomh bréan le | no change after chomh |
| very foul | an-bhréan | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too foul | róbhréan | ró- lenites |
“Bréan” 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.
Foul in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for foul?
The Irish for foul is bréan (pronounced “brain”). It comes after the noun: boladh bréan, a foul smell; feoil bhréan, foul meat.
How do you say fouler and foulest in Irish?
níos bréine is fouler and is bréine is foulest. In the past tense they become ní ba bhréine and ba bhréine.
Why does bréan become bhréan?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So feoil bhréan (foul meat) but boladh bréan (a foul smell), because boladh is masculine.
What is the plural of bréan?
With a plural noun bréan becomes bréana: bolaithe bréana, feolta bréana.
How do you say very foul in Irish?
an-bhréan. Too foul is róbhréan, and as foul as is chomh bréan le.
Does bréan have more than one meaning?
Yes. Bréan can mean foul, fed up or polluted, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say I am sick of something?
Use 'bréan de': 'Tá mé bréan de' means 'I am fed up with it', for example 'Tá mé bréan den obair seo'.
What is the difference between 'bréan' and 'lofa'?
'Lofa' means rotten or decayed, while 'bréan' stresses the foul smell; 'boladh bréan' is a foul smell.
