HeyRuaHow to say “red” in Irish
- Irish:
- dearg
- English:
- red, red-hot, utter
- Word type:
- adjective
- Redder:
- níos deirge
- Reddest:
- is deirge
- Plural:
- dearga
- Pronunciation:
- “JAR-ug” /dʲaɾˠəɡ/
What does “dearg” mean?
“Dearg” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- red
- Having the colour of blood or fire.Also: scarlet, crimson, ruddy.
2 other meanings: red-hot or utter
- 2red-hot
- Glowing or burning, as of fire or coals.Also: burning, glowing, live.
- 3utter
- Used for emphasis to mean complete or extreme, as in intense hatred.Also: extreme, intense, downright.
The same spelling has its own page as:
“Dearg” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is dearg after carr (car, 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 dhearg. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: carr dearg.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, dearga. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: bróga dearga.
Redder, reddest, very red
Tá a aghaidh níos deirge ná riamh. His face is redder than ever.
| redder | níos deirge | in the past tense: ní ba dheirge |
|---|---|---|
| reddest | is deirge | in the past tense: ba dheirge |
| as red as | chomh dearg le | no change after chomh |
| very red | an-dearg | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too red | ródhearg | ró- lenites |
“Dearg” 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.
Red in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for red?
The Irish for red is dearg (pronounced “JAR-ug”). It comes after the noun: carr dearg, a red car; bróg dhearg, a red shoe.
How do you say redder and reddest in Irish?
níos deirge is redder and is deirge is reddest. In the past tense they become ní ba dheirge and ba dheirge.
Why does dearg become dhearg?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bróg dhearg (a red shoe) but carr dearg (a red car), because carr is masculine.
What is the plural of dearg?
With a plural noun dearg becomes dearga: carranna dearga, bróga dearga.
How do you say very red in Irish?
an-dearg. Too red is ródhearg, and as red as is chomh dearg le.
Does dearg have more than one meaning?
Yes. Dearg can mean red, red-hot or utter, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'dearg' and 'rua'?
'Dearg' is the general word for red, while 'rua' is used for red hair and reddish-brown animals, as in 'gruaig rua' (red hair).
What does 'an ghráin dhearg' mean?
It means utter, intense hatred: 'Tá an ghráin dhearg aige air' means he absolutely hates him.
