HeyRuaHow to say “small” in Irish
- Irish:
- beag
- English:
- small, young, minor
- Word type:
- adjective
- Smaller:
- níos lú
- Smallest:
- is lú
- Plural:
- beaga
- Pronunciation:
- “byug” /bʲɔɡ/
What does “beag” mean?
“Beag” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- small
- Not large in size, amount or degree.Also: little, tiny, wee.
2 other meanings: young or minor
- 2young
- Young or small in age, especially of children.Also: little, small.
- 3minor
- Not important or serious.Also: slight, trivial, petty.
Other Irish adjectives for small: mion (small)
“Beag” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is beag after teach (house, masculine), after cathaoir (chair, 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: cathaoir bheag. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: teach beag.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, beaga. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: cathaoireacha beaga.
Smaller, smallest, very small
| smaller | níos lú | in the past tense: ní ba lú |
|---|---|---|
| smallest | is lú | in the past tense: ba lú |
| as small as | chomh beag le | no change after chomh |
| very small | an-bheag | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too small | róbheag | ró- lenites |
“Beag” 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.
Small in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for small?
The Irish for small is beag (pronounced “byug”). It comes after the noun: teach beag, a small house; cathaoir bheag, a small chair.
How do you say smaller and smallest in Irish?
níos lú is smaller and is lú is smallest. In the past tense they become ní ba lú and ba lú.
Why does beag become bheag?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So cathaoir bheag (a small chair) but teach beag (a small house), because teach is masculine.
What is the plural of beag?
With a plural noun beag becomes beaga: tithe beaga, cathaoireacha beaga.
How do you say very small in Irish?
an-bheag. Too small is róbheag, and as small as is chomh beag le.
Does beag have more than one meaning?
Yes. Beag can mean small, young or minor, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What does 'is beag orm' mean?
'Is beag orm é' means 'I dislike it' or 'I have little regard for it', while 'is beag nár thit mé' means 'I almost fell'.
Why is the comparative of beag 'lú'?
Beag is irregular: 'níos lú' means 'smaller' or 'less', and 'is lú' means 'smallest' or 'least'.
