HeyRuaHow to say “soft” in Irish
- Irish:
- bog
- English:
- soft, mild, gentle, loose
- Word type:
- adjective
- Softer:
- níos boige
- Softest:
- is boige
- Plural:
- boga
- Pronunciation:
- “bug” /bˠɔɡ/
What does “bog” mean?
“Bog” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- soft
- Giving way easily when pressed; not hard or firm.Also: tender, yielding, squashy.
3 other meanings: mild or gentle or loose
- 2mild
- Of weather: mild, damp or humid rather than cold or frosty.Also: soft, damp, humid.
- 3gentle
- Of a person, voice or manner: gentle, easygoing or lenient.Also: easygoing, lenient, soft-hearted.
- 4loose
- Not tight or firmly fixed.Also: slack, lukewarm.
“Bog” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is bog after arán (bread, masculine), after leaba (bed, 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: leaba bhog. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: arán bog.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, boga. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: aráin bhoga; after other plurals it does not: leapacha boga.
Softer, softest, very soft
Tá an t-im seo níos boige ná an ceann eile. This butter is softer than the other one.
| softer | níos boige | in the past tense: ní ba bhoige |
|---|---|---|
| softest | is boige | in the past tense: ba bhoige |
| as soft as | chomh bog le | no change after chomh |
| very soft | an-bhog | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too soft | róbhog | ró- lenites |
“Bog” in a sentence: Irish examples
With a masculine noun, a feminine noun, a plural, a comparison and on its own.
Phrases with bog: Tá lá bog ann (it's a soft day), Tóg go bog é (take it easy)
Other adjectives in Irish
More everyday Irish adjectives to learn next.
Phrases with “bog”
Soft in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for soft?
The Irish for soft is bog (pronounced “bug”). It comes after the noun: arán bog, soft bread; leaba bhog, a soft bed.
How do you say softer and softest in Irish?
níos boige is softer and is boige is softest. In the past tense they become ní ba bhoige and ba bhoige.
Why does bog become bhog?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So leaba bhog (a soft bed) but arán bog (soft bread), because arán is masculine.
What is the plural of bog?
With a plural noun bog becomes boga: aráin bhoga, leapacha boga. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very soft in Irish?
an-bhog. Too soft is róbhog, and as soft as is chomh bog le.
Does bog have more than one meaning?
Yes. Bog can mean soft, mild, gentle or loose, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What does 'Tóg go bog é' mean?
'Tóg go bog é' means 'take it easy', a common friendly farewell or reassurance.
What is the opposite of 'bog'?
The usual opposite is 'crua', hard, as in 'ubh chrua' versus 'ubh bhog'.
