HeyRuaHow to say “rich” in Irish
- Irish:
- saibhir
- English:
- rich
- Word type:
- adjective
- Richer:
- níos saibhre
- Richest:
- is saibhre
- Plural:
- saibhre
- Pronunciation:
- “SEV-ir” /ˈsˠɛvʲəɾʲ/
What does “saibhir” mean?
“Saibhir” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- rich
- Having a lot of money or possessions.Also: wealthy, well-off, affluent, prosperous.
1 other meaning:
- 2rich
- Plentiful or abundant in something, such as soil, language or colour.Also: abundant, plentiful, fertile, lavish.
The same spelling has its own page as:
“Saibhir” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is saibhir after fear (man, masculine), after tír (country, 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: tír shaibhir. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear saibhir.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, saibhre. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir shaibhre; after other plurals it does not: tíortha saibhre.
Richer, richest, very rich
Tá a deartháir níos saibhre ná í. Her brother is richer than her.
| richer | níos saibhre | in the past tense: ní ba shaibhre |
|---|---|---|
| richest | is saibhre | in the past tense: ba shaibhre |
| as rich as | chomh saibhir le | no change after chomh |
| very rich | an-saibhir | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too rich | róshaibhir | ró- lenites |
“Saibhir” 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.
Rich in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for rich?
The Irish for rich is saibhir (pronounced “SEV-ir”). It comes after the noun: fear saibhir, a rich man; tír shaibhir, a rich country.
How do you say richer and richest in Irish?
níos saibhre is richer and is saibhre is richest. In the past tense they become ní ba shaibhre and ba shaibhre.
Why does saibhir become shaibhir?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So tír shaibhir (a rich country) but fear saibhir (a rich man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of saibhir?
With a plural noun saibhir becomes saibhre: fir shaibhre, tíortha saibhre. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very rich in Irish?
an-saibhir. Too rich is róshaibhir, and as rich as is chomh saibhir le.
What is the opposite of saibhir?
The usual opposite is "bocht" (poor); "daibhir" is a more literary word for poor.
How do I say someone is rich in something?
Use the preposition "i": "saibhir i mianraí" means rich in minerals.
