HeyRuaHow to say “lively” in Irish
- Irish:
- beoga
- English:
- lively, vivid
- Word type:
- adjective
- More lively:
- níos beoga
- Most lively:
- is beoga
- Pronunciation:
- “BYOH-ga” /bʲoːɡə/
What does “beoga” mean?
“Beoga” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- lively
- Full of life, energy and spirit.Also: sprightly, spirited, animated, vivacious.
“Beoga” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is beoga after ceol (music, masculine), after bean (woman, 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: bean bheoga. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: ceol beoga.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, beoga. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: mná beoga.
More lively, most lively, very lively
Tá an baile seo níos beoga ná mar a bhí. This town is livelier than it used to be.
| more lively | níos beoga | in the past tense: ní ba bheoga |
|---|---|---|
| most lively | is beoga | in the past tense: ba bheoga |
| as lively as | chomh beoga le | no change after chomh |
| very lively | an-bheoga | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too lively | róbheoga | ró- lenites |
“Beoga” 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.
Lively in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for lively?
The Irish for lively is beoga (pronounced “BYOH-ga”). It comes after the noun: ceol beoga, lively music; bean bheoga, a lively woman.
How do you say more lively and most lively in Irish?
níos beoga is more lively and is beoga is most lively. In the past tense they become ní ba bheoga and ba bheoga.
Why does beoga become bheoga?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean bheoga (a lively woman) but ceol beoga (lively music), because ceol is masculine.
How do you say very lively in Irish?
an-bheoga. Too lively is róbheoga, and as lively as is chomh beoga le.
Does beoga have more than one meaning?
Yes. Beoga can mean lively or vivid, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'beoga' and 'beo'?
'Beo' simply means alive, as in 'tá sé beo', while 'beoga' means lively or full of life, as in 'páiste beoga'.
