HeyRuaHow to say “private” in Irish
- Irish:
- príobháideach
- English:
- private, confidential, private-sector
- Word type:
- adjective
- More private:
- níos príobháidí
- Most private:
- is príobháidí
- Plural:
- príobháideacha
- Pronunciation:
- “PREE-vaw-jukh” /ˈpˠɾʲiːwaːdʲəx/
What does “príobháideach” mean?
“Príobháideach” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- private
- Belonging to or used by one person or group, not the public.Also: personal, not public.
2 other meanings: confidential or private-sector
- 2confidential
- Kept secret or not meant to be shared with others.Also: secret, personal.
- 3private-sector
- Run by private business rather than by the state.Also: privately owned, independent.
Other Irish adjectives for private: pearsanta (personal)
“Príobháideach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is príobháideach after teach (house, masculine), after scoil (school, 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: scoil phríobháideach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: teach príobháideach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, príobháideacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: scoileanna príobháideacha.
More private, most private, very private
Tá an seomra seo níos príobháidí ná an ceann eile. This room is more private than the other one.
| more private | níos príobháidí | in the past tense: ní ba phríobháidí |
|---|---|---|
| most private | is príobháidí | in the past tense: ba phríobháidí |
| as private as | chomh príobháideach le | no change after chomh |
| very private | an-phríobháideach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too private | róphríobháideach | ró- lenites |
“Príobháideach” 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.
Private in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for private?
The Irish for private is príobháideach (pronounced “PREE-vaw-jukh”). It comes after the noun: teach príobháideach, a private house; scoil phríobháideach, a private school.
How do you say more private and most private in Irish?
níos príobháidí is more private and is príobháidí is most private. In the past tense they become ní ba phríobháidí and ba phríobháidí.
Why does príobháideach become phríobháideach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So scoil phríobháideach (a private school) but teach príobháideach (a private house), because teach is masculine.
What is the plural of príobháideach?
With a plural noun príobháideach becomes príobháideacha: tithe príobháideacha, scoileanna príobháideacha.
How do you say very private in Irish?
an-phríobháideach. Too private is róphríobháideach, and as private as is chomh príobháideach le.
Does príobháideach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Príobháideach can mean private, confidential or private-sector, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the opposite of príobháideach?
The opposite is poiblí, as in scoil phoiblí (a public school) versus scoil phríobháideach (a private school).
How do I say 'in private' in Irish?
Use go príobháideach, for example Labhair siad go príobháideach (They spoke in private), or faoi rún for something secret.
