HeyRuaHow to say “gay” in Irish
- Irish:
- aerach
- English:
- gay, light-hearted, airy, flighty
- Word type:
- adjective
- Gayer:
- níos aeraí
- Gayest:
- is aeraí
- Plural:
- aeracha
- Pronunciation:
- “AY-rakh” /ˈeːɾˠəx/
What does “aerach” mean?
“Aerach” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- gay
- Attracted to people of the same sex; homosexual.Also: homosexual, lesbian.
3 other meanings: light-hearted or airy or flighty
- 2light-hearted
- Cheerful, lively and full of fun.Also: cheerful, lively, merry, gay.
- 3airy
- Open to the air, breezy and fresh.Also: breezy, exposed.
- 4flighty
- Giddy and not serious or steady.Also: giddy, frivolous.
“Aerach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is aerach after fear (man, masculine), after bean (woman, feminine) and after a plural.
séimhiú (the h) the ending
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, aeracha.
Gayer, gayest, very gay
Bhí sí níos aeraí ná a deirfiúr nuair a bhí sí óg. She was more light-hearted than her sister when she was young.
| gayer | níos aeraí | in the past tense: ní b'aeraí |
|---|---|---|
| gayest | is aeraí | in the past tense: ab aeraí |
| as gay as | chomh haerach le | chomh puts an h before a vowel |
| very gay | an-aerach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too gay | ró-aerach | ró- lenites |
“Aerach” 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.
Gay in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for gay?
The Irish for gay is aerach (pronounced “AY-rakh”). It comes after the noun: fear aerach, a gay man; bean aerach, a gay woman.
How do you say gayer and gayest in Irish?
níos aeraí is gayer and is aeraí is gayest. In the past tense they become ní b'aeraí and ab aeraí.
What is the plural of aerach?
With a plural noun aerach becomes aeracha: fir aeracha, mná aeracha.
How do you say very gay in Irish?
an-aerach. Too gay is ró-aerach, and as gay as is chomh haerach le.
Does aerach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Aerach can mean gay, light-hearted, airy or flighty, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Does 'aerach' still mean cheerful?
In older and literary Irish 'aerach' means light-hearted or airy, but in modern everyday speech it usually means gay, as in 'fear aerach'.
Is 'aerach' the same as 'aerachtúil'?
No. 'Aerachtúil' usually means eerie or haunted, while 'aerach' means gay, cheerful or airy, though older sources sometimes overlap them.
