HeyRuaHow to say “smallness” in Irish
- Irish:
- bige
- English:
- smallness
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “BIG-eh” /bʲɪɟə/
- Genitive singular:
- bige, na bige (e.g. ar son na bige, for the sake of smallness)
What does “bige” mean?
- smallness
- The quality of being small or little in size or amount.Also: littleness, small size, pettiness.
Other Irish words for smallness: laghad (smallness)
“Bige” with the article
Here is bige after the article (an t-alt).
“Bige” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using bige, the Irish word for smallness.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Smallness in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for smallness?
The Irish for smallness is bige (pronounced “BIG-eh”). It’s a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce bige in Irish?
Bige is said like “BIG-eh” (IPA /bʲɪɟə/).
Does bige have a plural?
No plural form is given for bige in the standard. Many abstract and mass nouns in Irish have no plural.
Why does bige change to bhige or mbige?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) bige becomes mo bhige (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár mbige (eclipsis).
How is 'bige' different from 'laghad'?
Both relate to small quantity, but 'bige' usually refers to small size, while 'laghad' means fewness or scarcity, as in 'dá laghad é' (however little it is).
What does 'dul i mbige' mean?
'Dul i mbige' means to become smaller or to diminish, the opposite of 'dul i méid' (to grow bigger).
