HeyRuaHow to say “sweet” in Irish
- Irish:
- binn
- English:
- sweet, eloquent
- Word type:
- adjective
- Sweeter:
- níos binne
- Sweetest:
- is binne
- Plural:
- binne
- Pronunciation:
- “bin” /bʲiːnʲ/
What does “binn” mean?
“Binn” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- sweet
- Pleasant and melodious to the ear, used of sounds, voices and music.Also: melodious, sweet-sounding, tuneful, harmonious.
1 other meaning: eloquent
- 2eloquent
- Pleasing and well expressed in speech or words.Also: sweet-spoken, pleasing, well-spoken.
Other Irish adjectives for sweet: milis (sweet)
“Binn” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is binn after guth (voice, masculine), after cláirseach (harp, 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: cláirseach bhinn. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: guth binn.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, binne. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: cláirseacha binne.
Sweeter, sweetest, very sweet
Tá a guth níos binne ná guth a deirféar. Her voice is sweeter than her sister's voice.
| sweeter | níos binne | in the past tense: ní ba bhinne |
|---|---|---|
| sweetest | is binne | in the past tense: ba bhinne |
| as sweet as | chomh binn le | no change after chomh |
| very sweet | an-bhinn | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too sweet | róbhinn | ró- lenites |
“Binn” 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.
Sweet in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for sweet?
The Irish for sweet is binn (pronounced “bin”). It comes after the noun: guth binn, a sweet voice; cláirseach bhinn, a sweet harp.
How do you say sweeter and sweetest in Irish?
níos binne is sweeter and is binne is sweetest. In the past tense they become ní ba bhinne and ba bhinne.
Why does binn become bhinn?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So cláirseach bhinn (a sweet harp) but guth binn (a sweet voice), because guth is masculine.
What is the plural of binn?
With a plural noun binn becomes binne: guthanna binne, cláirseacha binne.
How do you say very sweet in Irish?
an-bhinn. Too sweet is róbhinn, and as sweet as is chomh binn le.
Does binn have more than one meaning?
Yes. Binn can mean sweet or eloquent, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'binn' and 'milis'?
'Binn' describes sweetness of sound, as in 'guth binn', a sweet voice, while 'milis' describes sweetness of taste, as in 'cáca milis', a sweet cake.
What does 'Is binn béal ina thost' mean?
This proverb means that silence is often wiser than speech, literally 'a silent mouth is sweet'.
