HeyRuaHow to say “lively” in Irish
- Irish:
- bíogúil
- English:
- lively, chirpy
- Word type:
- adjective
- More lively:
- níos bíogúla
- Most lively:
- is bíogúla
- Plural:
- bíogúla
- Pronunciation:
- “BEE-oo-gool” /bʲiːɡuːlʲ/
What does “bíogúil” mean?
“Bíogúil” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- lively
- Full of life and energy, quick and active in movement or manner.Also: sprightly, vivacious, spirited, energetic.
“Bíogúil” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is bíogúil after páiste (child, 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 bhíogúil. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: páiste bíogúil.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, bíogúla. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: mná bíogúla.
More lively, most lively, very lively
Tá an madra óg níos bíogúla ná an seanmhadra. The young dog is livelier than the old dog.
| more lively | níos bíogúla | in the past tense: ní ba bhíogúla |
|---|---|---|
| most lively | is bíogúla | in the past tense: ba bhíogúla |
| as lively as | chomh bíogúil le | no change after chomh |
| very lively | an-bhíogúil | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too lively | róbhíogúil | ró- lenites |
“Bíogúil” 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 bíogúil (pronounced “BEE-oo-gool”). It comes after the noun: páiste bíogúil, a lively child; bean bhíogúil, a lively woman.
How do you say more lively and most lively in Irish?
níos bíogúla is more lively and is bíogúla is most lively. In the past tense they become ní ba bhíogúla and ba bhíogúla.
Why does bíogúil become bhíogúil?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean bhíogúil (a lively woman) but páiste bíogúil (a lively child), because páiste is masculine.
What is the plural of bíogúil?
With a plural noun bíogúil becomes bíogúla: páistí bíogúla, mná bíogúla.
How do you say very lively in Irish?
an-bhíogúil. Too lively is róbhíogúil, and as lively as is chomh bíogúil le.
Does bíogúil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Bíogúil can mean lively or chirpy, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is bíogúil different from beoga?
Both mean lively, but bíogúil suggests quick, sprightly, chirpy energy, from bíog 'a chirp, a start', while beoga is a more general word for lively or vivid.
