HeyRuaHow to say “rude” in Irish
- Irish:
- borb
- English:
- rude, harsh, pungent
- Word type:
- adjective
- Ruder:
- níos boirbe
- Rudest:
- is boirbe
- Plural:
- borba
- Pronunciation:
- “BOR-ub” /ˈbˠɔɾˠəbˠ/
What does “borb” mean?
“Borb” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- rude
- Speaking or acting in a rough, impolite way.Also: gruff, brusque, abrupt, curt.
2 other meanings: harsh or pungent
- 2harsh
- Rough, fierce or violent in manner or effect.Also: rough, fierce, violent.
- 3pungent
- Sharp and strong in taste or smell.Also: sharp, acrid.
Other Irish adjectives for rude: drochmhúinte (rude), míbhéasach (ill-mannered), mímhúinte (rude), drochbhéasach (rude)
“Borb” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is borb after freagra (answer, masculine), after caint (talk, 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: caint bhorb. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: freagra borb.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, borba. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: cainteanna borba.
Ruder, rudest, very rude
Tá sé níos boirbe ná a dheartháir. He is ruder than his brother.
| ruder | níos boirbe | in the past tense: ní ba bhoirbe |
|---|---|---|
| rudest | is boirbe | in the past tense: ba bhoirbe |
| as rude as | chomh borb le | no change after chomh |
| very rude | an-bhorb | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too rude | róbhorb | ró- lenites |
“Borb” 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.
Rude in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for rude?
The Irish for rude is borb (pronounced “BOR-ub”). It comes after the noun: freagra borb, a rude answer; caint bhorb, rude talk.
How do you say ruder and rudest in Irish?
níos boirbe is ruder and is boirbe is rudest. In the past tense they become ní ba bhoirbe and ba bhoirbe.
Why does borb become bhorb?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So caint bhorb (rude talk) but freagra borb (a rude answer), because freagra is masculine.
What is the plural of borb?
With a plural noun borb becomes borba: freagraí borba, cainteanna borba.
How do you say very rude in Irish?
an-bhorb. Too rude is róbhorb, and as rude as is chomh borb le.
Does borb have more than one meaning?
Yes. Borb can mean rude, harsh or pungent, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Which preposition follows borb when someone is rude to a person?
Use le: bhí sé borb liom means he was rude to me.
