HeyRuaHow to say “spirited” in Irish
- Irish:
- gusmhar
- English:
- spirited, resourceful
- Word type:
- adjective
- More spirited:
- níos gusmhaire
- Most spirited:
- is gusmhaire
- Plural:
- gusmhara
- Pronunciation:
- “GUS-wur” /ˈɡʊsˠwəɾˠ/
What does “gusmhar” mean?
“Gusmhar” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- spirited
- Full of energy, vigour and determination.Also: vigorous, energetic, forceful, lively.
“Gusmhar” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is gusmhar after fear (man, masculine), after bean (woman, 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: bean ghusmhar. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear gusmhar.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, gusmhara. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir ghusmhara; after other plurals it does not: mná gusmhara.
More spirited, most spirited, very spirited
Tá sí níos gusmhaire ná a deartháir. She is more spirited than her brother.
| more spirited | níos gusmhaire | in the past tense: ní ba ghusmhaire |
|---|---|---|
| most spirited | is gusmhaire | in the past tense: ba ghusmhaire |
| as spirited as | chomh gusmhar le | no change after chomh |
| very spirited | an-ghusmhar | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too spirited | róghusmhar | ró- lenites |
“Gusmhar” 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.
Spirited in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for spirited?
The Irish for spirited is gusmhar (pronounced “GUS-wur”). It comes after the noun: fear gusmhar, a spirited man; bean ghusmhar, a spirited woman.
How do you say more spirited and most spirited in Irish?
níos gusmhaire is more spirited and is gusmhaire is most spirited. In the past tense they become ní ba ghusmhaire and ba ghusmhaire.
Why does gusmhar become ghusmhar?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean ghusmhar (a spirited woman) but fear gusmhar (a spirited man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of gusmhar?
With a plural noun gusmhar becomes gusmhara: fir ghusmhara, mná gusmhara. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very spirited in Irish?
an-ghusmhar. Too spirited is róghusmhar, and as spirited as is chomh gusmhar le.
Does gusmhar have more than one meaning?
Yes. Gusmhar can mean spirited or resourceful, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What noun is gusmhar related to?
It comes from the noun 'gus', meaning vigour, spirit or resourcefulness, as in 'níl gus ar bith ann' (he has no spirit in him).
