HeyRuaHow to say “purple” in Irish
- Irish:
- corcra
- English:
- purple, crimson
- Word type:
- adjective
- More purple:
- níos corcra
- Most purple:
- is corcra
- Pronunciation:
- “KUR-kra” /ˈkɔɾˠkəɾˠə/
What does “corcra” mean?
“Corcra” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- purple
- Having the colour that is a mix of red and blue.Also: violet, mauve.
1 other meaning: crimson
- 2crimson
- In older or literary use, a deep red or crimson colour.Also: deep red, scarlet.
The same spelling has its own page as:
“Corcra” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is corcra after geansaí (jumper, 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 chorcra. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: geansaí corcra.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, corcra. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: bróga corcra.
More purple, most purple, very purple
Tá an spéir níos corcra anocht. The sky is more purple tonight.
| more purple | níos corcra | in the past tense: ní ba chorcra |
|---|---|---|
| most purple | is corcra | in the past tense: ba chorcra |
| as purple as | chomh corcra le | no change after chomh |
| very purple | an-chorcra | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too purple | róchorcra | ró- lenites |
“Corcra” 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.
Purple in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for purple?
The Irish for purple is corcra (pronounced “KUR-kra”). It comes after the noun: geansaí corcra, a purple jumper; bróg chorcra, a purple shoe.
How do you say more purple and most purple in Irish?
níos corcra is more purple and is corcra is most purple. In the past tense they become ní ba chorcra and ba chorcra.
Why does corcra become chorcra?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bróg chorcra (a purple shoe) but geansaí corcra (a purple jumper), because geansaí is masculine.
How do you say very purple in Irish?
an-chorcra. Too purple is róchorcra, and as purple as is chomh corcra le.
Does corcra have more than one meaning?
Yes. Corcra can mean purple or crimson, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Is 'corcra' also a noun?
Yes, 'corcra' can also mean the colour purple itself, as in 'an corcra', but as an adjective it follows the noun: 'gúna corcra'.
How do I say 'violet' or 'lilac' instead?
For lighter shades you can say 'corcra éadrom' (light purple); 'corcra' covers most purple shades in everyday Irish.
