HeyRuaHow to say “loud” in Irish
- Irish:
- gáifeach
- English:
- loud, exaggerated, flamboyant
- Word type:
- adjective
- Louder:
- níos gáifí
- Loudest:
- is gáifí
- Plural:
- gáifeacha
- Pronunciation:
- “GAW-fyuch” /ˈɡɑːfʲəx/
What does “gáifeach” mean?
“Gáifeach” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- loud
- Too bright or showy in colour or style, especially of clothes.Also: gaudy, garish, flashy.
2 other meanings: exaggerated or flamboyant
- 2exaggerated
- Made to seem bigger or more dramatic than it really is.Also: sensational, overblown, extravagant.
- 3flamboyant
- Showy and attention-seeking in manner or behaviour.Also: ostentatious, showy.
Other Irish adjectives for loud: glórach (noisy), callánach (noisy), fothramach (noisy), tormánach (noisy)
“Gáifeach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is gáifeach after geansaí (jumper, 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 gháifeach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: geansaí gáifeach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, gáifeacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: mná gáifeacha.
Louder, loudest, very loud
Tá a chulaith níos gáifí ná mo cheannsa. His suit is louder than mine.
| louder | níos gáifí | in the past tense: ní ba gháifí |
|---|---|---|
| loudest | is gáifí | in the past tense: ba gháifí |
| as loud as | chomh gáifeach le | no change after chomh |
| very loud | an-gháifeach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too loud | rógháifeach | ró- lenites |
“Gáifeach” 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.
Loud in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for loud?
The Irish for loud is gáifeach (pronounced “GAW-fyuch”). It comes after the noun: geansaí gáifeach, a loud jumper; bean gháifeach, a loud woman.
How do you say louder and loudest in Irish?
níos gáifí is louder and is gáifí is loudest. In the past tense they become ní ba gháifí and ba gháifí.
Why does gáifeach become gháifeach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean gháifeach (a loud woman) but geansaí gáifeach (a loud jumper), because geansaí is masculine.
What is the plural of gáifeach?
With a plural noun gáifeach becomes gáifeacha: geansaithe gáifeacha, mná gáifeacha.
How do you say very loud in Irish?
an-gháifeach. Too loud is rógháifeach, and as loud as is chomh gáifeach le.
Does gáifeach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Gáifeach can mean loud, exaggerated or flamboyant, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is 'gáifeach' different from 'péacach'?
'Péacach' usually means showy or gaudy in dress, while 'gáifeach' also covers exaggerated or sensational, as in 'scéal gáifeach', an exaggerated story.
