HeyRuaHow to say “quick” in Irish
- Irish:
- gasta
- English:
- quick, clever, neat
- Word type:
- adjective
- Quicker:
- níos gasta
- Quickest:
- is gasta
- Pronunciation:
- “GAS-ta” /ˈɡasˠt̪ˠə/
What does “gasta” mean?
“Gasta” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- quick
- Moving or happening at high speed, or taking little time.Also: fast, rapid, speedy, swift.
2 other meanings: clever or neat
“Gasta” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is gasta after carr (car, masculine), after bean (woman, 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: bean ghasta. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: carr gasta.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, gasta. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: mná gasta.
Quicker, quickest, very quick
Tá an traein níos gasta ná an bus. The train is faster than the bus.
| quicker | níos gasta | in the past tense: ní ba ghasta |
|---|---|---|
| quickest | is gasta | in the past tense: ba ghasta |
| as quick as | chomh gasta le | no change after chomh |
| very quick | an-ghasta | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too quick | róghasta | ró- lenites |
“Gasta” 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.
Quick in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for quick?
The Irish for quick is gasta (pronounced “GAS-ta”). It comes after the noun: carr gasta, a quick car; bean ghasta, a quick woman.
How do you say quicker and quickest in Irish?
níos gasta is quicker and is gasta is quickest. In the past tense they become ní ba ghasta and ba ghasta.
Why does gasta become ghasta?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean ghasta (a quick woman) but carr gasta (a quick car), because carr is masculine.
How do you say very quick in Irish?
an-ghasta. Too quick is róghasta, and as quick as is chomh gasta le.
Does gasta have more than one meaning?
Yes. Gasta can mean quick, clever or neat, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'gasta' and 'tapa'?
Both mean quick, but 'gasta' is especially common in Ulster and can also mean clever, while 'tapa' mainly refers to speed. You can say 'go gasta' or 'go tapa' for quickly.
How do I say 'quickly' with 'gasta'?
Put 'go' before it: 'Éirigh go gasta!' means 'Get up quickly!'.
