HeyRuaHow to say “green” in Irish
- Irish:
- glas
- English:
- green, grey, raw, environmentally friendly
- Word type:
- adjective
- Greener:
- níos glaise
- Greenest:
- is glaise
- Plural:
- glasa
- Pronunciation:
- “glass” /ɡl̪ˠasˠ/
What does “glas” mean?
“Glas” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- green
- Having the colour of grass and leaves in nature.Also: verdant, grassy.
3 other meanings: grey or raw or environmentally friendly
- 2grey
- Grey or blue-grey, used especially of animals, stone, the sea and the sky.Also: blue-grey, grey-blue.
- 3raw
- Inexperienced or not yet mature, like someone new to a job.Also: inexperienced, unripe, immature, callow.
- 4environmentally friendly
- Supporting the protection of nature and the environment.Also: green, eco-friendly.
Other Irish adjectives for green: uaine (green), neamhaibí (unripe)
“Glas” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is glas after féar (grass, masculine), after páirc (field, 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: páirc ghlas. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: féar glas.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, glasa. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: páirceanna glasa.
Greener, greenest, very green
Tá an gort seo níos glaise ná an ceann thall. This field is greener than the one over there.
| greener | níos glaise | in the past tense: ní ba ghlaise |
|---|---|---|
| greenest | is glaise | in the past tense: ba ghlaise |
| as green as | chomh glas le | no change after chomh |
| very green | an-ghlas | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too green | róghlas | ró- lenites |
“Glas” 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.
Green in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for green?
The Irish for green is glas (pronounced “glass”). It comes after the noun: féar glas, green grass; páirc ghlas, a green field.
How do you say greener and greenest in Irish?
níos glaise is greener and is glaise is greenest. In the past tense they become ní ba ghlaise and ba ghlaise.
Why does glas become ghlas?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So páirc ghlas (a green field) but féar glas (green grass), because féar is masculine.
What is the plural of glas?
With a plural noun glas becomes glasa: féara glasa, páirceanna glasa.
How do you say very green in Irish?
an-ghlas. Too green is róghlas, and as green as is chomh glas le.
Does glas have more than one meaning?
Yes. Glas can mean green, grey, raw or environmentally friendly, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'glas' and 'uaithne'?
'Glas' is the everyday word for the green of nature, while 'uaithne' is a brighter green used for things like paint and clothing. 'Glas' can also mean grey, as in 'capall glas'.
Is 'glas' in 'faoi ghlas' the same word?
No, 'faoi ghlas' (locked) comes from the noun 'glas', meaning a lock. It is a separate word from the adjective.
