HeyRuaHow to say “hungry” in Irish
- Irish:
- ocrach
- English:
- hungry, needy
- Word type:
- adjective
- Hungrier:
- níos ocraí
- Hungriest:
- is ocraí
- Plural:
- ocracha
- Pronunciation:
- “UK-ra-akh” /ˈɔkəɾˠəx/
What does “ocrach” mean?
“Ocrach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- hungry
- Wanting or needing food.Also: peckish, starving, famished.
1 other meaning: needy
- 2needy
- Poor and lacking enough to live on, so that people go hungry.Also: poor, starving, impoverished.
Other Irish adjectives for hungry: gortach (hungry)
“Ocrach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is ocrach after páiste (child, masculine), after girseach (girl, feminine) and after a plural.
séimhiú (the h) the ending
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, ocracha.
Hungrier, hungriest, very hungry
Bhí mé níos ocraí ná riamh tar éis na siúlóide. I was hungrier than ever after the walk.
| hungrier | níos ocraí | in the past tense: ní b'ocraí |
|---|---|---|
| hungriest | is ocraí | in the past tense: ab ocraí |
| as hungry as | chomh hocrach le | chomh puts an h before a vowel |
| very hungry | an-ocrach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too hungry | ró-ocrach | ró- lenites |
“Ocrach” 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.
Hungry in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for hungry?
The Irish for hungry is ocrach (pronounced “UK-ra-akh”). It comes after the noun: páiste ocrach, a hungry child; girseach ocrach, a hungry girl.
How do you say hungrier and hungriest in Irish?
níos ocraí is hungrier and is ocraí is hungriest. In the past tense they become ní b'ocraí and ab ocraí.
What is the plural of ocrach?
With a plural noun ocrach becomes ocracha: páistí ocracha, girseacha ocracha.
How do you say very hungry in Irish?
an-ocrach. Too hungry is ró-ocrach, and as hungry as is chomh hocrach le.
Does ocrach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Ocrach can mean hungry or needy, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Is 'tá mé ocrach' the same as 'tá ocras orm'?
Both mean 'I am hungry'. 'Tá ocras orm' is the more common everyday way to say it, while 'tá mé ocrach' is also correct.
How do I say 'starving' in Irish?
Use 'stiúgtha' or 'stiúgtha leis an ocras' for 'starving', which is stronger than 'ocrach'.
