HeyRuaHow to say “hard” in Irish
- Irish:
- crua
- English:
- hard, difficult, harsh, stingy
- Word type:
- adjective
- Harder:
- níos crua
- Hardest:
- is crua
- Pronunciation:
- “krooa” /kɾˠuə/
What does “crua” mean?
“Crua” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- hard
- Firm and solid to the touch, not soft.Also: firm, solid, tough.
3 other meanings: difficult or harsh or stingy
- 2difficult
- Not easy to do, bear or understand.Also: hard, tough, trying.
- 3harsh
- Severe or strict in manner or conditions.Also: severe, stern, hard-hearted.
- 4stingy
- Mean with money, not generous.Also: mean, tight-fisted.
Other Irish adjectives for hard: deacair (difficult), dian (hard), doiligh (difficult), deacrach (difficult)
“Crua” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is crua after arán (bread, masculine), after leaba (bed, 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: leaba chrua. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: arán crua.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, crua. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: aráin chrua; after other plurals it does not: leapacha crua.
Harder, hardest, very hard
Tá an obair seo níos crua ná an obair eile. This work is harder than the other work.
| harder | níos crua | in the past tense: ní ba chrua |
|---|---|---|
| hardest | is crua | in the past tense: ba chrua |
| as hard as | chomh crua le | no change after chomh |
| very hard | an-chrua | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too hard | róchrua | ró- lenites |
“Crua” 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.
Hard in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for hard?
The Irish for hard is crua (pronounced “krooa”). It comes after the noun: arán crua, hard bread; leaba chrua, a hard bed.
How do you say harder and hardest in Irish?
níos crua is harder and is crua is hardest. In the past tense they become ní ba chrua and ba chrua.
Why does crua become chrua?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So leaba chrua (a hard bed) but arán crua (hard bread), because arán is masculine.
How do you say very hard in Irish?
an-chrua. Too hard is róchrua, and as hard as is chomh crua le.
Does crua have more than one meaning?
Yes. Crua can mean hard, difficult, harsh or stingy, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'crua' and 'deacair'?
Both can mean difficult, but 'crua' also means physically hard, as in 'cloch chrua', while 'deacair' only means difficult, as in 'ceist dheacair'.
How do I say 'to work hard'?
Use the adverb form 'go crua': 'Oibríonn sé go crua', he works hard.
