HeyRuaHow to say “salty” in Irish
- Irish:
- goirt
- English:
- salty, bitter
- Word type:
- adjective
- Saltier:
- níos goirte
- Saltiest:
- is goirte
- Plural:
- goirte
- Pronunciation:
- “gurtch” /ɡɔɾˠtʲ/
What does “goirt” mean?
“Goirt” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- salty
- Tasting of salt or containing a lot of salt.Also: salt, briny, brackish.
1 other meaning: bitter
- 2bitter
- Painful, harsh or bitter, as of tears, experience or words.Also: painful, sore, harsh.
“Goirt” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is goirt after bia (food, masculine), after feoil (meat, 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: feoil ghoirt. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: bia goirt.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, goirte. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: feolta goirte.
Saltier, saltiest, very salty
Tá an t-anraith seo níos goirte ná an ceann eile. This soup is saltier than the other one.
| saltier | níos goirte | in the past tense: ní ba ghoirte |
|---|---|---|
| saltiest | is goirte | in the past tense: ba ghoirte |
| as salty as | chomh goirt le | no change after chomh |
| very salty | an-ghoirt | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too salty | róghoirt | ró- lenites |
“Goirt” 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.
Salty in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for salty?
The Irish for salty is goirt (pronounced “gurtch”). It comes after the noun: bia goirt, salty food; feoil ghoirt, salty meat.
How do you say saltier and saltiest in Irish?
níos goirte is saltier and is goirte is saltiest. In the past tense they become ní ba ghoirte and ba ghoirte.
Why does goirt become ghoirt?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So feoil ghoirt (salty meat) but bia goirt (salty food), because bia is masculine.
What is the plural of goirt?
With a plural noun goirt becomes goirte: bianna goirte, feolta goirte.
How do you say very salty in Irish?
an-ghoirt. Too salty is róghoirt, and as salty as is chomh goirt le.
Does goirt have more than one meaning?
Yes. Goirt can mean salty or bitter, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'goirt' and 'saillte'?
'Goirt' describes a salty taste, as in 'uisce goirt', while 'saillte' means salted or cured with salt, as in 'bagún saillte'.
