HeyRuaHow to say “long” in Irish
- Irish:
- fada
- English:
- long, far
- Word type:
- adjective
- Longer:
- níos faide
- Longest:
- is faide
- Pronunciation:
- “FA-da” /ˈfˠad̪ˠə/
What does “fada” mean?
“Fada” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- long
- Having great length in space, from one end to the other.Also: lengthy, tall.
2 other meanings: far
- 2long
- Lasting a great amount of time.Also: lengthy, long-lasting, prolonged.
- 3far
- At a great distance away.Also: distant, far away.
“Fada” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is fada after bóthar (road, masculine), after oíche (night, 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: oíche fhada. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: bóthar fada.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, fada. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: oícheanta fada.
Longer, longest, very long
Tá an abhainn seo níos faide ná an ceann eile. This river is longer than the other one.
| longer | níos faide | in the past tense: ní b'fhaide |
|---|---|---|
| longest | is faide | in the past tense: ab fhaide |
| as long as | chomh fada le | no change after chomh |
| very long | an-fhada | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too long | rófhada | ró- lenites |
“Fada” 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.
Long in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for long?
The Irish for long is fada (pronounced “FA-da”). It comes after the noun: bóthar fada, a long road; oíche fhada, a long night.
How do you say longer and longest in Irish?
níos faide is longer and is faide is longest. In the past tense they become ní b'fhaide and ab fhaide.
Why does fada become fhada?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So oíche fhada (a long night) but bóthar fada (a long road), because bóthar is masculine.
How do you say very long in Irish?
an-fhada. Too long is rófhada, and as long as is chomh fada le.
Does fada have more than one meaning?
Yes. Fada can mean long or far, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'fada' and 'i bhfad'?
'Fada' is the adjective meaning long, as in 'lá fada', while 'i bhfad' is an adverbial phrase meaning far or a long time, as in 'Tá sé i bhfad ó bhaile'.
What is the opposite of 'fada'?
The usual opposite is 'gearr', meaning short, as in 'lá gearr'.
