HeyRuaHow to say “near” in Irish
- Irish:
- gar
- English:
- near, close, stingy
- Word type:
- adjective
- More near:
- níos gaire
- Most near:
- is gaire
- Plural:
- gara
- Pronunciation:
- “gar” /ɡaɾˠ/
What does “gar” mean?
“Gar” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- near
- Close by in place, usually followed by "do".Also: close, nearby, close to.
2 other meanings: close or stingy
“Gar” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is gar after gaol (relationship, masculine), after comharsa (neighbour, 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: comharsa ghar. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: gaol gar.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, gara. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: gaoil ghara; after other plurals it does not: comharsana gara.
More near, most near, very near
Tá an siopa níos gaire don teach ná an scoil. The shop is nearer the house than the school.
| more near | níos gaire | in the past tense: ní ba ghaire |
|---|---|---|
| most near | is gaire | in the past tense: ba ghaire |
| as near as | chomh gar le | no change after chomh |
| very near | an-ghar | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too near | róghar | ró- lenites |
“Gar” 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.
Near in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for near?
The Irish for near is gar (pronounced “gar”). It comes after the noun: gaol gar, a near relationship; comharsa ghar, a near neighbour.
How do you say more near and most near in Irish?
níos gaire is more near and is gaire is most near. In the past tense they become ní ba ghaire and ba ghaire.
Why does gar become ghar?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So comharsa ghar (a near neighbour) but gaol gar (a near relationship), because gaol is masculine.
What is the plural of gar?
With a plural noun gar becomes gara: gaoil ghara, comharsana gara. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very near in Irish?
an-ghar. Too near is róghar, and as near as is chomh gar le.
Does gar have more than one meaning?
Yes. Gar can mean near, close or stingy, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Which preposition follows "gar"?
Use "do": "gar don abhainn" means near the river, and "gar dó" means near him.
Is "gar" in "Níl gar a bheith ag caint" the same word?
No, that is the noun "gar", meaning use or point: "Níl gar ann" means there is no point.
