HeyRuaHow to say “merry” in Irish
- Irish:
- meidhreach
- English:
- merry, frisky
- Word type:
- adjective
- Merrier:
- níos meidhrí
- Merriest:
- is meidhrí
- Plural:
- meidhreacha
- Pronunciation:
- “MY-rokh” /ˈmʲəiɾʲəx/
What does “meidhreach” mean?
“Meidhreach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- merry
- Full of fun and good humour, lively and cheerful.Also: jolly, frisky, lively, cheerful.
1 other meaning: frisky
- 2frisky
- Playful and full of energy, often said of animals or children.Also: playful, sprightly, frolicsome.
Other Irish adjectives for merry: súgach (tipsy), scléipeach (merry)
“Meidhreach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is meidhreach after páiste (child, masculine), after girseach (girl, 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: girseach mheidhreach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: páiste meidhreach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, meidhreacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: girseacha meidhreacha.
Merrier, merriest, very merry
Tá an madra óg níos meidhrí ná an seanmhadra. The young dog is friskier than the old dog.
| merrier | níos meidhrí | in the past tense: ní ba mheidhrí |
|---|---|---|
| merriest | is meidhrí | in the past tense: ba mheidhrí |
| as merry as | chomh meidhreach le | no change after chomh |
| very merry | an-mheidhreach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too merry | rómheidhreach | ró- lenites |
“Meidhreach” 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.
Merry in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for merry?
The Irish for merry is meidhreach (pronounced “MY-rokh”). It comes after the noun: páiste meidhreach, a merry child; girseach mheidhreach, a merry girl.
How do you say merrier and merriest in Irish?
níos meidhrí is merrier and is meidhrí is merriest. In the past tense they become ní ba mheidhrí and ba mheidhrí.
Why does meidhreach become mheidhreach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So girseach mheidhreach (a merry girl) but páiste meidhreach (a merry child), because páiste is masculine.
What is the plural of meidhreach?
With a plural noun meidhreach becomes meidhreacha: páistí meidhreacha, girseacha meidhreacha.
How do you say very merry in Irish?
an-mheidhreach. Too merry is rómheidhreach, and as merry as is chomh meidhreach le.
Does meidhreach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Meidhreach can mean merry or frisky, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between meidhreach and súgach?
Meidhreach means merry or frisky in a general, lively way, while súgach usually means merry from drink, tipsy.
