HeyRuaHow to say “jumpy” in Irish
- Irish:
- geiteach
- English:
- jumpy
- Word type:
- adjective
- Jumpier:
- níos geití
- Jumpiest:
- is geití
- Plural:
- geiteacha
- Pronunciation:
- “GET-yukh” /ˈɟɛtʲəx/
What does “geiteach” mean?
- jumpy
- Easily startled or made to jump with fright.Also: skittish, easily startled, nervous, jittery.
“Geiteach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is geiteach after capall (horse, masculine), after bó (cow, 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: bó gheiteach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: capall geiteach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, geiteacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: capaill gheiteacha; after other plurals it does not: ba geiteacha.
Jumpier, jumpiest, very jumpy
Tá an láir seo níos geití ná an ceann eile. This mare is more skittish than the other one.
| jumpier | níos geití | in the past tense: ní ba gheití |
|---|---|---|
| jumpiest | is geití | in the past tense: ba gheití |
| as jumpy as | chomh geiteach le | no change after chomh |
| very jumpy | an-gheiteach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too jumpy | rógheiteach | ró- lenites |
“Geiteach” 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.
Jumpy in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for jumpy?
The Irish for jumpy is geiteach (pronounced “GET-yukh”). It comes after the noun: capall geiteach, a jumpy horse; bó gheiteach, a jumpy cow.
How do you say jumpier and jumpiest in Irish?
níos geití is jumpier and is geití is jumpiest. In the past tense they become ní ba gheití and ba gheití.
Why does geiteach become gheiteach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bó gheiteach (a jumpy cow) but capall geiteach (a jumpy horse), because capall is masculine.
What is the plural of geiteach?
With a plural noun geiteach becomes geiteacha: capaill gheiteacha, ba geiteacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very jumpy in Irish?
an-gheiteach. Too jumpy is rógheiteach, and as jumpy as is chomh geiteach le.
What noun is 'geiteach' related to?
It comes from 'geit', a start or fright, as in 'baineadh geit asam', I got a fright.
