HeyRuaHow to say “pointed” in Irish
- Irish:
- biorach
- English:
- pointed, sharp
- Word type:
- adjective
- More pointed:
- níos bioraí
- Most pointed:
- is bioraí
- Plural:
- bioracha
- Pronunciation:
- “BIR-uch” /ˈbʲɪɾˠəx/
What does “biorach” mean?
“Biorach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- pointed
- Having a sharp point or tip.Also: sharp, spiky, tapering.
1 other meaning: sharp
- 2sharp
- Sharp or cutting in manner or speech, as of a remark or person.Also: cutting, barbed, sharp-tongued.
“Biorach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is biorach after bata (stick, masculine), after scian (knife, 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: scian bhiorach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: bata biorach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, bioracha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: sceana bioracha.
More pointed, most pointed, very pointed
Tá an peann luaidhe seo níos bioraí ná an ceann eile. This pencil is sharper than the other one.
| more pointed | níos bioraí | in the past tense: ní ba bhioraí |
|---|---|---|
| most pointed | is bioraí | in the past tense: ba bhioraí |
| as pointed as | chomh biorach le | no change after chomh |
| very pointed | an-bhiorach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too pointed | róbhiorach | ró- lenites |
“Biorach” 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.
Pointed in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for pointed?
The Irish for pointed is biorach (pronounced “BIR-uch”). It comes after the noun: bata biorach, a pointed stick; scian bhiorach, a pointed knife.
How do you say more pointed and most pointed in Irish?
níos bioraí is more pointed and is bioraí is most pointed. In the past tense they become ní ba bhioraí and ba bhioraí.
Why does biorach become bhiorach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So scian bhiorach (a pointed knife) but bata biorach (a pointed stick), because bata is masculine.
What is the plural of biorach?
With a plural noun biorach becomes bioracha: bataí bioracha, sceana bioracha.
How do you say very pointed in Irish?
an-bhiorach. Too pointed is róbhiorach, and as pointed as is chomh biorach le.
Does biorach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Biorach can mean pointed or sharp, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'biorach' and 'géar'?
'Biorach' means pointed, having a sharp tip, while 'géar' means sharp in general, for example of a blade's edge: scian ghéar, a sharp knife.
