HeyRuaHow to say “hurried” in Irish
- Irish:
- deifreach
- English:
- hurried, urgent
- Word type:
- adjective
- More hurried:
- níos deifrí
- Most hurried:
- is deifrí
- Plural:
- deifreacha
- Pronunciation:
- “DEF-rakh” /ˈdʲefʲɾʲəx/
What does “deifreach” mean?
“Deifreach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- hurried
- Done quickly or in a hurry, without much time.Also: hasty, quick, rushed, in a hurry.
1 other meaning: urgent
- 2urgent
- Needing to be done quickly; pressing.Also: pressing, rushed.
“Deifreach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is deifreach after turas (journey, masculine), after céim (step, 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: céim dheifreach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: turas deifreach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, deifreacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: turais dheifreacha; after other plurals it does not: céimeanna deifreacha.
More hurried, most hurried, very hurried
Bhí an dara turas níos deifrí ná an chéad cheann. The second trip was more hurried than the first.
| more hurried | níos deifrí | in the past tense: ní ba dheifrí |
|---|---|---|
| most hurried | is deifrí | in the past tense: ba dheifrí |
| as hurried as | chomh deifreach le | no change after chomh |
| very hurried | an-deifreach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too hurried | ródheifreach | ró- lenites |
“Deifreach” 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.
Hurried in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for hurried?
The Irish for hurried is deifreach (pronounced “DEF-rakh”). It comes after the noun: turas deifreach, a hurried journey; céim dheifreach, a hurried step.
How do you say more hurried and most hurried in Irish?
níos deifrí is more hurried and is deifrí is most hurried. In the past tense they become ní ba dheifrí and ba dheifrí.
Why does deifreach become dheifreach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So céim dheifreach (a hurried step) but turas deifreach (a hurried journey), because turas is masculine.
What is the plural of deifreach?
With a plural noun deifreach becomes deifreacha: turais dheifreacha, céimeanna deifreacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very hurried in Irish?
an-deifreach. Too hurried is ródheifreach, and as hurried as is chomh deifreach le.
Does deifreach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Deifreach can mean hurried or urgent, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is 'deifreach' related to 'deifir'?
'Deifreach' comes from the noun 'deifir' (hurry); 'Tá deifir orm' means 'I am in a hurry'.
