HeyRuaHow to say “sore” in Irish
- Irish:
- frithir
- English:
- sore, intense, peevish
- Word type:
- adjective
- Sorer:
- níos frithire
- Sorest:
- is frithire
- Plural:
- frithire
- Pronunciation:
- “FRIH-hir” /ˈfʲɾʲihəɾʲ/
What does “frithir” mean?
“Frithir” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- sore
- Painful and tender to the touch, like a wound or an aching part of the body.Also: tender, painful, smarting, aching.
“Frithir” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is frithir after fear (man, masculine), after lámh (hand, 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: lámh fhrithir. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear frithir.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, frithire. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir fhrithire; after other plurals it does not: lámha frithire.
Sorer, sorest, very sore
Tá mo dhroim níos frithire inniu ná inné. My back is sorer today than yesterday.
| sorer | níos frithire | in the past tense: ní ba fhrithire |
|---|---|---|
| sorest | is frithire | in the past tense: ba fhrithire |
| as sore as | chomh frithir le | no change after chomh |
| very sore | an-fhrithir | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too sore | rófhrithir | ró- lenites |
“Frithir” 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.
Sore in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for sore?
The Irish for sore is frithir (pronounced “FRIH-hir”). It comes after the noun: fear frithir, a sore man; lámh fhrithir, a sore hand.
How do you say sorer and sorest in Irish?
níos frithire is sorer and is frithire is sorest. In the past tense they become ní ba fhrithire and ba fhrithire.
Why does frithir become fhrithir?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So lámh fhrithir (a sore hand) but fear frithir (a sore man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of frithir?
With a plural noun frithir becomes frithire: fir fhrithire, lámha frithire. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very sore in Irish?
an-fhrithir. Too sore is rófhrithir, and as sore as is chomh frithir le.
Does frithir have more than one meaning?
Yes. Frithir can mean sore, intense or peevish, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'frithir' and 'tinn'?
'Frithir' means sore or tender to the touch, as in 'Tá mo chos frithir', while 'tinn' is more general, meaning sick or aching, as in 'Tá mé tinn'.
