HeyRuaHow to say “rusty” in Irish
- Irish:
- meirgeach
- English:
- rusty, irritable
- Word type:
- adjective
- Rustier:
- níos meirgí
- Rustiest:
- is meirgí
- Plural:
- meirgeacha
- Pronunciation:
- “MER-ig-ukh” /ˈmʲɛɾʲəɟəx/
What does “meirgeach” mean?
“Meirgeach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- rusty
- Covered with or damaged by rust.Also: rusted, corroded.
1 other meaning: irritable
- 2irritable
- Cranky and quick to lose one's temper.Also: crusty, cranky, peevish, grumpy.
“Meirgeach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is meirgeach after tairne (nail, masculine), after eochair (key, 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: eochair mheirgeach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: tairne meirgeach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, meirgeacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: eochracha meirgeacha.
Rustier, rustiest, very rusty
Tá an rothar seo níos meirgí ná an ceann eile. This bicycle is rustier than the other one.
| rustier | níos meirgí | in the past tense: ní ba mheirgí |
|---|---|---|
| rustiest | is meirgí | in the past tense: ba mheirgí |
| as rusty as | chomh meirgeach le | no change after chomh |
| very rusty | an-mheirgeach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too rusty | rómheirgeach | ró- lenites |
“Meirgeach” 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.
Rusty in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for rusty?
The Irish for rusty is meirgeach (pronounced “MER-ig-ukh”). It comes after the noun: tairne meirgeach, a rusty nail; eochair mheirgeach, a rusty key.
How do you say rustier and rustiest in Irish?
níos meirgí is rustier and is meirgí is rustiest. In the past tense they become ní ba mheirgí and ba mheirgí.
Why does meirgeach become mheirgeach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So eochair mheirgeach (a rusty key) but tairne meirgeach (a rusty nail), because tairne is masculine.
What is the plural of meirgeach?
With a plural noun meirgeach becomes meirgeacha: tairní meirgeacha, eochracha meirgeacha.
How do you say very rusty in Irish?
an-mheirgeach. Too rusty is rómheirgeach, and as rusty as is chomh meirgeach le.
Does meirgeach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Meirgeach can mean rusty or irritable, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'meirgeach' and 'meirgithe'?
Both can mean rusty: 'meirgeach' describes something rusty or a cranky person, while 'meirgithe' stresses that the metal has become rusted, from the verb 'meirgigh'.
