HeyRuaHow to say “public” in Irish
- Irish:
- poiblí
- English:
- public, publicly known
- Word type:
- adjective
- More public:
- níos poiblí
- Most public:
- is poiblí
- Pronunciation:
- “pub-LEE” /pˠəbʲˈlʲiː/
What does “poiblí” mean?
“Poiblí” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- public
- Open to or concerning everyone, not private.Also: open, communal, general.
1 other meaning: publicly known
- 2publicly known
- Known to or done in front of people generally.Also: open, overt, in public.
“Poiblí” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is poiblí after cruinniú (meeting, masculine), after leabharlann (library, 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: leabharlann phoiblí. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: cruinniú poiblí.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, poiblí. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: leabharlanna poiblí.
More public, most public, very public
| more public | níos poiblí | in the past tense: ní ba phoiblí |
|---|---|---|
| most public | is poiblí | in the past tense: ba phoiblí |
| as public as | chomh poiblí le | no change after chomh |
| very public | an-phoiblí | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too public | róphoiblí | ró- lenites |
“Poiblí” 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.
Public in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for public?
The Irish for public is poiblí (pronounced “pub-LEE”). It comes after the noun: cruinniú poiblí, a public meeting; leabharlann phoiblí, a public library.
How do you say more public and most public in Irish?
níos poiblí is more public and is poiblí is most public. In the past tense they become ní ba phoiblí and ba phoiblí.
Why does poiblí become phoiblí?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So leabharlann phoiblí (a public library) but cruinniú poiblí (a public meeting), because cruinniú is masculine.
How do you say very public in Irish?
an-phoiblí. Too public is róphoiblí, and as public as is chomh poiblí le.
Does poiblí have more than one meaning?
Yes. Poiblí can mean public or publicly known, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'in public' in Irish?
Use the adverb go poiblí, as in Ní maith liom bheith ag caint go poiblí, 'I don't like speaking in public'.
What is the opposite of poiblí?
The opposite is príobháideach, 'private', as in scoil phríobháideach, 'a private school'.
