HeyRuaHow to say “positive” in Irish
- Irish:
- dearfach
- English:
- positive, affirmative, positive (technical)
- Word type:
- adjective
- More positive:
- níos dearfaí
- Most positive:
- is dearfaí
- Plural:
- dearfacha
- Pronunciation:
- “JAR-uh-fukh” /ˈdʲaɾˠəfˠəx/
What does “dearfach” mean?
“Dearfach” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- positive
- Showing a hopeful, constructive or favourable attitude or result.Also: optimistic, constructive, favourable.
2 other meanings: affirmative or positive (technical)
- 2affirmative
- Saying yes or agreeing, as opposed to negative.Also: positive, yes.
- 3positive (technical)
- Greater than zero or carrying a positive charge or result, in maths, science or medicine.Also: positive, plus.
Other Irish adjectives for positive: deimhneach (positive)
“Dearfach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is dearfach after freagra (answer, masculine), after tuairim (opinion, 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: tuairim dhearfach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: freagra dearfach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, dearfacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: tuairimí dearfacha.
More positive, most positive, very positive
Tá sí níos dearfaí ná mar a bhí anuraidh. She is more positive than she was last year.
| more positive | níos dearfaí | in the past tense: ní ba dhearfaí |
|---|---|---|
| most positive | is dearfaí | in the past tense: ba dhearfaí |
| as positive as | chomh dearfach le | no change after chomh |
| very positive | an-dearfach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too positive | ródhearfach | ró- lenites |
“Dearfach” 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.
Positive in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for positive?
The Irish for positive is dearfach (pronounced “JAR-uh-fukh”). It comes after the noun: freagra dearfach, a positive answer; tuairim dhearfach, a positive opinion.
How do you say more positive and most positive in Irish?
níos dearfaí is more positive and is dearfaí is most positive. In the past tense they become ní ba dhearfaí and ba dhearfaí.
Why does dearfach become dhearfach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So tuairim dhearfach (a positive opinion) but freagra dearfach (a positive answer), because freagra is masculine.
What is the plural of dearfach?
With a plural noun dearfach becomes dearfacha: freagraí dearfacha, tuairimí dearfacha.
How do you say very positive in Irish?
an-dearfach. Too positive is ródhearfach, and as positive as is chomh dearfach le.
Does dearfach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Dearfach can mean positive, affirmative or positive (technical), depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the opposite of dearfach?
The opposite is diúltach, meaning negative, as in freagra diúltach, a negative answer.
Does dearfach mean 'certain' as in 'I am positive'?
For being sure, cinnte is more usual: Tá mé cinnte. Dearfach mainly means positive in attitude or affirmative.
