HeyRuaHow to say “playful” in Irish
- Irish:
- súgrach
- English:
- playful, jocose
- Word type:
- adjective
- More playful:
- níos súgraí
- Most playful:
- is súgraí
- Plural:
- súgracha
- Pronunciation:
- “SOO-grukh” /ˈsuːɡɾˠəx/
What does “súgrach” mean?
“Súgrach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- playful
- Fond of play and fun, light-hearted and merry.Also: merry, sportive, frolicsome, fun-loving.
“Súgrach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is súgrach 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 shúgrach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: páiste súgrach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, súgracha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: girseacha súgracha.
More playful, most playful, very playful
Tá an cat níos súgraí ná an madra. The cat is more playful than the dog.
| more playful | níos súgraí | in the past tense: ní ba shúgraí |
|---|---|---|
| most playful | is súgraí | in the past tense: ba shúgraí |
| as playful as | chomh súgrach le | no change after chomh |
| very playful | an-súgrach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too playful | róshúgrach | ró- lenites |
“Súgrach” 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.
Playful in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for playful?
The Irish for playful is súgrach (pronounced “SOO-grukh”). It comes after the noun: páiste súgrach, a playful child; girseach shúgrach, a playful girl.
How do you say more playful and most playful in Irish?
níos súgraí is more playful and is súgraí is most playful. In the past tense they become ní ba shúgraí and ba shúgraí.
Why does súgrach become shúgrach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So girseach shúgrach (a playful girl) but páiste súgrach (a playful child), because páiste is masculine.
What is the plural of súgrach?
With a plural noun súgrach becomes súgracha: páistí súgracha, girseacha súgracha.
How do you say very playful in Irish?
an-súgrach. Too playful is róshúgrach, and as playful as is chomh súgrach le.
Does súgrach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Súgrach can mean playful or jocose, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between súgrach and spraíúil?
Both mean playful; spraíúil is the more common everyday word, while súgrach is linked to súgradh, play, and can sound a little more literary.
