HeyRuaHow to say “inquisitive” in Irish
- Irish:
- fiafraitheach
- English:
- inquisitive, interrogative
- Word type:
- adjective
- More inquisitive:
- níos fiafraithí
- Most inquisitive:
- is fiafraithí
- Plural:
- fiafraitheacha
- Pronunciation:
- “FEE-ra-hukh” /ˈfʲiəɾˠəhəx/
What does “fiafraitheach” mean?
“Fiafraitheach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- inquisitive
- Always asking questions and wanting to know things.Also: questioning, curious, prying.
1 other meaning: interrogative
- 2interrogative
- Used in grammar for a word or sentence that asks a question.Also: questioning.
Other Irish adjectives for inquisitive: fiosrach (curious)
“Fiafraitheach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is fiafraitheach after páiste (child, masculine), after girseach (girl, 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: girseach fhiafraitheach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: páiste fiafraitheach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, fiafraitheacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: girseacha fiafraitheacha.
More inquisitive, most inquisitive, very inquisitive
Tá Síle níos fiafraithí ná a deartháir. Síle is more inquisitive than her brother.
| more inquisitive | níos fiafraithí | in the past tense: ní b'fhiafraithí |
|---|---|---|
| most inquisitive | is fiafraithí | in the past tense: ab fhiafraithí |
| as inquisitive as | chomh fiafraitheach le | no change after chomh |
| very inquisitive | an-fhiafraitheach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too inquisitive | rófhiafraitheach | ró- lenites |
“Fiafraitheach” 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.
Inquisitive in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for inquisitive?
The Irish for inquisitive is fiafraitheach (pronounced “FEE-ra-hukh”). It comes after the noun: páiste fiafraitheach, an inquisitive child; girseach fhiafraitheach, an inquisitive girl.
How do you say more inquisitive and most inquisitive in Irish?
níos fiafraithí is more inquisitive and is fiafraithí is most inquisitive. In the past tense they become ní b'fhiafraithí and ab fhiafraithí.
Why does fiafraitheach become fhiafraitheach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So girseach fhiafraitheach (an inquisitive girl) but páiste fiafraitheach (an inquisitive child), because páiste is masculine.
What is the plural of fiafraitheach?
With a plural noun fiafraitheach becomes fiafraitheacha: páistí fiafraitheacha, girseacha fiafraitheacha.
How do you say very inquisitive in Irish?
an-fhiafraitheach. Too inquisitive is rófhiafraitheach, and as inquisitive as is chomh fiafraitheach le.
Does fiafraitheach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Fiafraitheach can mean inquisitive or interrogative, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'fiafraitheach' and 'fiosrach'?
Both mean inquisitive, but 'fiosrach' is the more common everyday word for curious, while 'fiafraitheach' stresses asking questions and is also the grammatical term for interrogative, as in 'forainm fiafraitheach'.
