HeyRuaHow to say “fragrant” in Irish
- Irish:
- cumhra
- English:
- fragrant, fresh
- Word type:
- adjective
- More fragrant:
- níos cumhra
- Most fragrant:
- is cumhra
- Pronunciation:
- “KOO-ra” /ˈkuːɾˠə/
What does “cumhra” mean?
“Cumhra” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- fragrant
- Having a sweet, pleasant smell.Also: sweet-smelling, aromatic, perfumed, scented.
1 other meaning: fresh
- 2fresh
- Fresh, clean and wholesome, especially of air or water.Also: clean, wholesome, pure.
“Cumhra” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is cumhra after bláth (flower, 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 chumhra. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: bláth cumhra.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, cumhra. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: mná cumhra.
More fragrant, most fragrant, very fragrant
Tá an lus seo níos cumhra ná an ceann eile. This plant is more fragrant than the other one.
| more fragrant | níos cumhra | in the past tense: ní ba chumhra |
|---|---|---|
| most fragrant | is cumhra | in the past tense: ba chumhra |
| as fragrant as | chomh cumhra le | no change after chomh |
| very fragrant | an-chumhra | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too fragrant | róchumhra | ró- lenites |
“Cumhra” 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.
Fragrant in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for fragrant?
The Irish for fragrant is cumhra (pronounced “KOO-ra”). It comes after the noun: bláth cumhra, a fragrant flower; bean chumhra, a fragrant woman.
How do you say more fragrant and most fragrant in Irish?
níos cumhra is more fragrant and is cumhra is most fragrant. In the past tense they become ní ba chumhra and ba chumhra.
Why does cumhra become chumhra?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean chumhra (a fragrant woman) but bláth cumhra (a fragrant flower), because bláth is masculine.
How do you say very fragrant in Irish?
an-chumhra. Too fragrant is róchumhra, and as fragrant as is chomh cumhra le.
Does cumhra have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cumhra can mean fragrant or fresh, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Is 'cumhra' related to 'cumha' (homesickness)?
No, 'cumhra' means fragrant, while 'cumha' is a noun meaning grief or homesickness; do not confuse them. The noun from 'cumhra' is 'cumhracht', fragrance.
