HeyRuaHow to say “loving” in Irish
- Irish:
- grámhar
- English:
- loving, lovable
- Word type:
- adjective
- More loving:
- níos grámhaire
- Most loving:
- is grámhaire
- Plural:
- grámhara
- Pronunciation:
- “GRAW-wur” /ˈɡɾˠɑːwəɾˠ/
What does “grámhar” mean?
“Grámhar” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- loving
- Showing love and warm affection towards others.Also: affectionate, tender, fond.
“Grámhar” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is grámhar after athair (father, masculine), after máthair (mother, 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: máthair ghrámhar. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: athair grámhar.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, grámhara. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: máithreacha grámhara.
More loving, most loving, very loving
Tá sí níos grámhaire ná a deirfiúr. She is more affectionate than her sister.
| more loving | níos grámhaire | in the past tense: ní ba ghrámhaire |
|---|---|---|
| most loving | is grámhaire | in the past tense: ba ghrámhaire |
| as loving as | chomh grámhar le | no change after chomh |
| very loving | an-ghrámhar | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too loving | róghrámhar | ró- lenites |
“Grámhar” 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.
Loving in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for loving?
The Irish for loving is grámhar (pronounced “GRAW-wur”). It comes after the noun: athair grámhar, a loving father; máthair ghrámhar, a loving mother.
How do you say more loving and most loving in Irish?
níos grámhaire is more loving and is grámhaire is most loving. In the past tense they become ní ba ghrámhaire and ba ghrámhaire.
Why does grámhar become ghrámhar?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So máthair ghrámhar (a loving mother) but athair grámhar (a loving father), because athair is masculine.
What is the plural of grámhar?
With a plural noun grámhar becomes grámhara: aithreacha grámhara, máithreacha grámhara.
How do you say very loving in Irish?
an-ghrámhar. Too loving is róghrámhar, and as loving as is chomh grámhar le.
Does grámhar have more than one meaning?
Yes. Grámhar can mean loving or lovable, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'grámhar' and 'ceanúil'?
'Grámhar' means loving in general, while 'ceanúil' means fond and is often used with 'ar', as in 'ceanúil ar a mhadra' (fond of his dog).
