HeyRuaHow to say “pregnant” in Irish
- Irish:
- toircheasach
- English:
- pregnant, fertile
- Word type:
- adjective
- More pregnant:
- níos toircheasaí
- Most pregnant:
- is toircheasaí
- Plural:
- toircheasacha
- Pronunciation:
- “TIR-hyas-akh” /ˈt̪ˠɛɾʲhəsˠəx/
What does “toircheasach” mean?
“Toircheasach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- pregnant
- Carrying a baby or young in the womb.Also: expecting, with child, gravid.
1 other meaning: fertile
- 2fertile
- Able to produce offspring or crops; fruitful.Also: fruitful, prolific.
Other Irish adjectives for pregnant: torrach (pregnant)
“Toircheasach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is toircheasach after ainmhí (animal, masculine), after bó (cow, 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: bó thoircheasach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: ainmhí toircheasach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, toircheasacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: ba toircheasacha.
More pregnant, most pregnant, very pregnant
Bhí an chaora sin níos toircheasaí ná na cinn eile. That ewe was further on in pregnancy than the others.
| more pregnant | níos toircheasaí | in the past tense: ní ba thoircheasaí |
|---|---|---|
| most pregnant | is toircheasaí | in the past tense: ba thoircheasaí |
| as pregnant as | chomh toircheasach le | no change after chomh |
| very pregnant | an-toircheasach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too pregnant | róthoircheasach | ró- lenites |
“Toircheasach” 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.
Pregnant in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for pregnant?
The Irish for pregnant is toircheasach (pronounced “TIR-hyas-akh”). It comes after the noun: ainmhí toircheasach, a pregnant animal; bó thoircheasach, a pregnant cow.
How do you say more pregnant and most pregnant in Irish?
níos toircheasaí is more pregnant and is toircheasaí is most pregnant. In the past tense they become ní ba thoircheasaí and ba thoircheasaí.
Why does toircheasach become thoircheasach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bó thoircheasach (a pregnant cow) but ainmhí toircheasach (a pregnant animal), because ainmhí is masculine.
What is the plural of toircheasach?
With a plural noun toircheasach becomes toircheasacha: ainmhithe toircheasacha, ba toircheasacha.
How do you say very pregnant in Irish?
an-toircheasach. Too pregnant is róthoircheasach, and as pregnant as is chomh toircheasach le.
Does toircheasach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Toircheasach can mean pregnant or fertile, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'toircheasach' and 'torrach'?
Both mean pregnant. 'Torrach' is more common in everyday speech, while 'toircheasach' is more formal and is often used in medical contexts.
