HeyRuaHow to say “pointed” in Irish
- Irish:
- gobach
- English:
- pointed, beaked, sharp, lipped
- Word type:
- adjective
- More pointed:
- níos gobaí
- Most pointed:
- is gobaí
- Plural:
- gobacha
- Pronunciation:
- “GUB-uckh” /ˈɡɔbˠəx/
What does “gobach” mean?
“Gobach” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- pointed
- Having a sharp or narrow point, like a beak.Also: sharp-pointed, peaked, tapered.
3 other meanings: beaked or sharp or lipped
- 2beaked
- Having a beak or a long bill, or a sharp, prominent nose or mouth.Also: long-billed, sharp-featured, snouted.
- 3sharp
- Sharp or cutting in speech or expression.Also: cutting, tart, pointed.
- 4lipped
- Having a lip or spout, as on a jug.Also: spouted.
Other Irish adjectives for pointed: biorach (pointed)
“Gobach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is gobach after bád (boat, masculine), after bróg (shoe, 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: bróg ghobach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: bád gobach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, gobacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: báid ghobacha; after other plurals it does not: bróga gobacha.
More pointed, most pointed, very pointed
Tá an bhróg seo níos gobaí ná an ceann eile. This shoe is more pointed than the other one.
| more pointed | níos gobaí | in the past tense: ní ba ghobaí |
|---|---|---|
| most pointed | is gobaí | in the past tense: ba ghobaí |
| as pointed as | chomh gobach le | no change after chomh |
| very pointed | an-ghobach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too pointed | róghobach | ró- lenites |
“Gobach” 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 gobach (pronounced “GUB-uckh”). It comes after the noun: bád gobach, a pointed boat; bróg ghobach, a pointed shoe.
How do you say more pointed and most pointed in Irish?
níos gobaí is more pointed and is gobaí is most pointed. In the past tense they become ní ba ghobaí and ba ghobaí.
Why does gobach become ghobach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bróg ghobach (a pointed shoe) but bád gobach (a pointed boat), because bád is masculine.
What is the plural of gobach?
With a plural noun gobach becomes gobacha: báid ghobacha, bróga gobacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very pointed in Irish?
an-ghobach. Too pointed is róghobach, and as pointed as is chomh gobach le.
Does gobach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Gobach can mean pointed, beaked, sharp or lipped, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between gobach and biorach?
Both mean pointed, but 'gobach' suggests a beak-like point or snout, while 'biorach' is the general word for sharp-pointed, like a spike.
