HeyRuaHow to say “straight” in Irish
- Irish:
- díreach
- English:
- straight, direct, upright, exact
- Word type:
- adjective
- Straighter:
- níos dírí
- Straightest:
- is dírí
- Plural:
- díreacha
- Pronunciation:
- “JEE-rukh” /ˈdʲiːɾʲəx/
What does “díreach” mean?
“Díreach” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- straight
- Not bent or curved; going in one line.Also: unbent, in a line.
3 other meanings: direct or upright or exact
- 2direct
- Going from one place to another without stopping or turning aside.Also: non-stop, through.
- 3upright
- Standing straight up; also honest and straightforward in character.Also: erect, honest, straightforward.
- 4exact
- Precise or exactly right, often used as 'go díreach' meaning exactly.Also: precise.
“Díreach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is díreach after bóthar (road, masculine), after líne (line, 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: líne dhíreach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: bóthar díreach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, díreacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: línte díreacha.
Straighter, straightest, very straight
Tá an bóthar seo níos dírí ná an seanbhóthar. This road is straighter than the old road.
| straighter | níos dírí | in the past tense: ní ba dhírí |
|---|---|---|
| straightest | is dírí | in the past tense: ba dhírí |
| as straight as | chomh díreach le | no change after chomh |
| very straight | an-díreach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too straight | ródhíreach | ró- lenites |
“Díreach” in a sentence: Irish examples
With a masculine noun, a feminine noun, a plural, a comparison and on its own.
Phrases with díreach: Go díreach (exactly), Díreach ar aghaidh (straight ahead)
Other adjectives in Irish
More everyday Irish adjectives to learn next.
Phrases with “díreach”
Straight in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for straight?
The Irish for straight is díreach (pronounced “JEE-rukh”). It comes after the noun: bóthar díreach, a straight road; líne dhíreach, a straight line.
How do you say straighter and straightest in Irish?
níos dírí is straighter and is dírí is straightest. In the past tense they become ní ba dhírí and ba dhírí.
Why does díreach become dhíreach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So líne dhíreach (a straight line) but bóthar díreach (a straight road), because bóthar is masculine.
What is the plural of díreach?
With a plural noun díreach becomes díreacha: bóithre díreacha, línte díreacha.
How do you say very straight in Irish?
an-díreach. Too straight is ródhíreach, and as straight as is chomh díreach le.
Does díreach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Díreach can mean straight, direct, upright or exact, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'just' as in 'I just arrived' using díreach?
Use díreach before the verbal adjective or action: 'Tá mé díreach tagtha' means 'I have just arrived', and 'Bhíomar díreach ag caint fút' means 'We were just talking about you'.
What is the opposite of díreach?
The usual opposite is 'cam', meaning crooked or bent, as in 'bóthar cam', a winding road.
