HeyRuaHow to say “growth” in Irish
- Irish:
- fás
- English:
- growth, growth of plants, sapling
- Word type:
- noun (verbal noun)
- Verbal noun of:
- fás, to grow (ag fás, growing)
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “faws” /fˠaːsˠ/
- Plural:
- fáis (growths)
- Genitive singular:
- fáis, an fháis (e.g. ráta an fháis, the rate of growth)
- Genitive plural:
- fás, na bhfás (e.g. ag gearradh na bhfás, cutting the shoots)
What does “fás” mean?
“Fás” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- growth
- The process of growing or increasing; it is the verbal noun of the verb fás, to grow.Also: growing, increase, development.
2 other meanings: growth of plants or sapling
“Fás” as a verbal noun
After ag, fás means growing: it is the verbal noun of the verb fás (to grow). A noun that follows it goes into the genitive.
“Fás” with the article
The plural of growth in Irish is fáis. Here is fás after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Fás” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using fás, the Irish word for growth.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Growth in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for growth?
The Irish for growth is fás (pronounced “faws”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is fáis. Depending on context it can also mean growth of plants or sapling.
How do you pronounce fás in Irish?
Fás is said like “faws” (IPA /fˠaːsˠ/).
What is the plural of growth in Irish?
The plural of fás is fáis; with the article, na fáis means “the growths”. The genitive plural is fás, as in ag gearradh na bhfás (cutting the shoots).
Does fás have more than one meaning?
Yes. Fás can mean growth, growth of plants or sapling, depending on context; the first is the most common. Fás also has its own entry as a verb meaning to grow.
Why does fás change to fhás or bhfás?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) fás becomes m'fhás (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár bhfás (eclipsis).
How do I say something is growing?
Use ag fás with the verb bí: Tá an féar ag fás, the grass is growing.
What does fás aon oíche mean?
It means something that sprang up overnight, often used of an upstart or a sudden success.
