HeyRuaHow to say “fresh” in Irish
- Irish:
- úr
- English:
- fresh, new, moist
- Word type:
- adjective
- Fresher:
- níos úire
- Freshest:
- is úire
- Plural:
- úra
- Pronunciation:
- “oor” /uːɾˠ/
What does “úr” mean?
“Úr” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- fresh
- Recently made, picked or obtained, not stale or old.Also: freshly made, crisp, unspoilt.
2 other meanings: new or moist
- 2new
- Recently begun, arrived or made; especially common in Ulster Irish for 'new'.Also: novel, brand new, recent.
- 3moist
- Slightly wet or damp, as of soil or grass.Also: damp, dewy.
Other Irish adjectives for fresh: fionnuar (cool), friseáilte (fresh)
“Úr” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is úr after arán (bread, masculine), after bliain (year, feminine) and after a plural.
séimhiú (the h) the ending
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, úra.
Fresher, freshest, very fresh
Tá an t-iasc seo níos úire ná an t-iasc sin. This fish is fresher than that fish.
| fresher | níos úire | in the past tense: ní b'úire |
|---|---|---|
| freshest | is úire | in the past tense: ab úire |
| as fresh as | chomh húr le | chomh puts an h before a vowel |
| very fresh | an-úr | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too fresh | ró-úr | ró- lenites |
“Úr” 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.
Fresh in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for fresh?
The Irish for fresh is úr (pronounced “oor”). It comes after the noun: arán úr, fresh bread; bliain úr, a fresh year.
How do you say fresher and freshest in Irish?
níos úire is fresher and is úire is freshest. In the past tense they become ní b'úire and ab úire.
What is the plural of úr?
With a plural noun úr becomes úra: aráin úra, blianta úra.
How do you say very fresh in Irish?
an-úr. Too fresh is ró-úr, and as fresh as is chomh húr le.
Does úr have more than one meaning?
Yes. Úr can mean fresh, new or moist, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'úr' and 'nua'?
'Nua' is the usual word for new, while 'úr' mainly means fresh, as in 'arán úr'. In Ulster, 'úr' is also widely used for new, as in 'an bhliain úr'.
How do you say 'afresh' or 'start again'?
Use 'as an úr', as in 'Thosaigh sé as an úr', meaning he started afresh.
