HeyRuaHow to say “steady” in Irish
- Irish:
- forasta
- English:
- steady, stable
- Word type:
- adjective
- Steadier:
- níos forasta
- Steadiest:
- is forasta
- Pronunciation:
- “FOR-us-ta” /ˈfˠɔɾˠəsˠt̪ˠə/
What does “forasta” mean?
“Forasta” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- steady
- Calm, settled and dependable in manner or behaviour.Also: staid, sedate, settled, grave.
“Forasta” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is forasta 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 fhorasta. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear forasta.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, forasta. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir fhorasta; after other plurals it does not: mná forasta.
Steadier, steadiest, very steady
Tá sí níos forasta ná a deirfiúr. She is steadier than her sister.
| steadier | níos forasta | in the past tense: ní b'fhorasta |
|---|---|---|
| steadiest | is forasta | in the past tense: ab fhorasta |
| as steady as | chomh forasta le | no change after chomh |
| very steady | an-fhorasta | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too steady | rófhorasta | ró- lenites |
“Forasta” 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.
Steady in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for steady?
The Irish for steady is forasta (pronounced “FOR-us-ta”). It comes after the noun: fear forasta, a steady man; bean fhorasta, a steady woman.
How do you say steadier and steadiest in Irish?
níos forasta is steadier and is forasta is steadiest. In the past tense they become ní b'fhorasta and ab fhorasta.
Why does forasta become fhorasta?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean fhorasta (a steady woman) but fear forasta (a steady man), because fear is masculine.
How do you say very steady in Irish?
an-fhorasta. Too steady is rófhorasta, and as steady as is chomh forasta le.
Does forasta have more than one meaning?
Yes. Forasta can mean steady or stable, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is forasta different from stuama?
Forasta stresses a settled, staid steadiness of manner, while stuama stresses good sense and level-headedness. Both can describe a reliable person: duine forasta, duine stuama.
