HeyRuaHow to say “frisky” in Irish
- Irish:
- teaspúil
- English:
- frisky, wanton
- Word type:
- adjective
- Friskier:
- níos teaspúla
- Friskiest:
- is teaspúla
- Plural:
- teaspúla
- Pronunciation:
- “TASS-pool” /ˈtʲasˠpˠuːlʲ/
What does “teaspúil” mean?
“Teaspúil” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- frisky
- Full of high spirits and energy, lively and playful, often too much so.Also: exuberant, high-spirited, lively, boisterous.
1 other meaning: wanton
- 2wanton
- Behaving in a lustful or unrestrained, immoral way.Also: lewd, lustful.
“Teaspúil” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is teaspúil after capall (horse, masculine), after girseach (girl, 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: girseach theaspúil. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: capall teaspúil.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, teaspúla. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: capaill theaspúla; after other plurals it does not: girseacha teaspúla.
Friskier, friskiest, very frisky
Tá an madra óg níos teaspúla ná an seanmhadra. The young dog is friskier than the old dog.
| friskier | níos teaspúla | in the past tense: ní ba theaspúla |
|---|---|---|
| friskiest | is teaspúla | in the past tense: ba theaspúla |
| as frisky as | chomh teaspúil le | no change after chomh |
| very frisky | an-teaspúil | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too frisky | rótheaspúil | ró- lenites |
“Teaspúil” 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.
Frisky in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for frisky?
The Irish for frisky is teaspúil (pronounced “TASS-pool”). It comes after the noun: capall teaspúil, a frisky horse; girseach theaspúil, a frisky girl.
How do you say friskier and friskiest in Irish?
níos teaspúla is friskier and is teaspúla is friskiest. In the past tense they become ní ba theaspúla and ba theaspúla.
Why does teaspúil become theaspúil?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So girseach theaspúil (a frisky girl) but capall teaspúil (a frisky horse), because capall is masculine.
What is the plural of teaspúil?
With a plural noun teaspúil becomes teaspúla: capaill theaspúla, girseacha teaspúla. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very frisky in Irish?
an-teaspúil. Too frisky is rótheaspúil, and as frisky as is chomh teaspúil le.
Does teaspúil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Teaspúil can mean frisky or wanton, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is 'teaspúil' related to 'teaspach'?
'Teaspúil' comes from the noun 'teaspach', meaning exuberance, high spirits or heat, as in 'tá teaspach air', he is full of himself.
