HeyRuaHow to say “talkative” in Irish
- Irish:
- geabanta
- English:
- talkative, glib
- Word type:
- adjective
- More talkative:
- níos geabanta
- Most talkative:
- is geabanta
- Pronunciation:
- “GYOW-bun-ta” /ɟaubˠən̪ˠt̪ˠə/
What does “geabanta” mean?
“Geabanta” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- talkative
- Describes someone who talks a lot, often in a chatty or gossipy way.Also: chatty, garrulous, gabby, loquacious.
“Geabanta” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is geabanta 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 gheabanta. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear geabanta.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, geabanta. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir gheabanta; after other plurals it does not: mná geabanta.
More talkative, most talkative, very talkative
Tá Síle níos geabanta ná a deartháir. Síle is more talkative than her brother.
| more talkative | níos geabanta | in the past tense: ní ba gheabanta |
|---|---|---|
| most talkative | is geabanta | in the past tense: ba gheabanta |
| as talkative as | chomh geabanta le | no change after chomh |
| very talkative | an-gheabanta | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too talkative | rógheabanta | ró- lenites |
“Geabanta” 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.
Talkative in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for talkative?
The Irish for talkative is geabanta (pronounced “GYOW-bun-ta”). It comes after the noun: fear geabanta, a talkative man; bean gheabanta, a talkative woman.
How do you say more talkative and most talkative in Irish?
níos geabanta is more talkative and is geabanta is most talkative. In the past tense they become ní ba gheabanta and ba gheabanta.
Why does geabanta become gheabanta?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean gheabanta (a talkative woman) but fear geabanta (a talkative man), because fear is masculine.
How do you say very talkative in Irish?
an-gheabanta. Too talkative is rógheabanta, and as talkative as is chomh geabanta le.
Does geabanta have more than one meaning?
Yes. Geabanta can mean talkative or glib, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between geabanta and cainteach?
Both mean talkative, but cainteach is the more neutral everyday word, while geabanta suggests chatter or gab, from the noun geab.
