HeyRuaHow to say “swollen” in Irish
- Irish:
- borrtha
- English:
- swollen, varicose, puffed
- Word type:
- adjective
- More swollen:
- níos borrtha
- Most swollen:
- is borrtha
- Pronunciation:
- “BOR-ha” /ˈbˠɔɾˠhə/
What does “borrtha” mean?
“Borrtha” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- swollen
- Puffed up or enlarged, especially from swelling.Also: puffed up, bloated, turgid.
2 other meanings: varicose or puffed
- 2varicose
- Describing veins that are swollen and twisted.Also: swollen (veins).
- 3puffed
- Describing cereal grains that have been puffed up, as in breakfast foods.Also: puffed up.
“Borrtha” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is borrtha after rúitín (ankle, masculine), after cos (foot, 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: cos bhorrtha. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: rúitín borrtha.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, borrtha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: cosa borrtha.
More swollen, most swollen, very swollen
Tá an lámh níos borrtha ná mar a bhí inné. The hand is more swollen than it was yesterday.
| more swollen | níos borrtha | in the past tense: ní ba bhorrtha |
|---|---|---|
| most swollen | is borrtha | in the past tense: ba bhorrtha |
| as swollen as | chomh borrtha le | no change after chomh |
| very swollen | an-bhorrtha | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too swollen | róbhorrtha | ró- lenites |
“Borrtha” 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.
Swollen in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for swollen?
The Irish for swollen is borrtha (pronounced “BOR-ha”). It comes after the noun: rúitín borrtha, a swollen ankle; cos bhorrtha, a swollen foot.
How do you say more swollen and most swollen in Irish?
níos borrtha is more swollen and is borrtha is most swollen. In the past tense they become ní ba bhorrtha and ba bhorrtha.
Why does borrtha become bhorrtha?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So cos bhorrtha (a swollen foot) but rúitín borrtha (a swollen ankle), because rúitín is masculine.
How do you say very swollen in Irish?
an-bhorrtha. Too swollen is róbhorrtha, and as swollen as is chomh borrtha le.
Does borrtha have more than one meaning?
Yes. Borrtha can mean swollen, varicose or puffed, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'borrtha' and 'ata'?
Both mean swollen; 'ata' is the everyday word for a swollen body part, while 'borrtha' also covers technical uses like 'féitheacha borrtha' (varicose veins).
