HeyRuaHow to say “vocative” in Irish
- Irish:
- gairmeach
- English:
- vocative, vocational
- Word type:
- adjective
- More vocative:
- níos gairmí
- Most vocative:
- is gairmí
- Plural:
- gairmeacha
- Pronunciation:
- “GAR-im-ukh” /ɡaɾʲəmʲəx/
What does “gairmeach” mean?
“Gairmeach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- vocative
- Used in grammar for the case or form of a word used when addressing someone directly.Also: vocative case, addressing.
1 other meaning: vocational
- 2vocational
- Relating to a calling, trade or profession; another word for gairmiúil.Also: professional, occupational.
The same spelling has its own page as:
“Gairmeach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is gairmeach after tuiseal (case, masculine), after foirm (form, 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: foirm ghairmeach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: tuiseal gairmeach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, gairmeacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: tuisil ghairmeacha; after other plurals it does not: foirmeacha gairmeacha.
More vocative, most vocative, very vocative
Tá an cúrsa seo níos gairmí ná an ceann eile. This course is more vocational than the other one.
| more vocative | níos gairmí | in the past tense: ní ba ghairmí |
|---|---|---|
| most vocative | is gairmí | in the past tense: ba ghairmí |
| as vocative as | chomh gairmeach le | no change after chomh |
| very vocative | an-ghairmeach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too vocative | róghairmeach | ró- lenites |
“Gairmeach” 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.
Vocative in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for vocative?
The Irish for vocative is gairmeach (pronounced “GAR-im-ukh”). It comes after the noun: tuiseal gairmeach, a vocative case; foirm ghairmeach, a vocative form.
How do you say more vocative and most vocative in Irish?
níos gairmí is more vocative and is gairmí is most vocative. In the past tense they become ní ba ghairmí and ba ghairmí.
Why does gairmeach become ghairmeach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So foirm ghairmeach (a vocative form) but tuiseal gairmeach (a vocative case), because tuiseal is masculine.
What is the plural of gairmeach?
With a plural noun gairmeach becomes gairmeacha: tuisil ghairmeacha, foirmeacha gairmeacha. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very vocative in Irish?
an-ghairmeach. Too vocative is róghairmeach, and as vocative as is chomh gairmeach le.
Does gairmeach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Gairmeach can mean vocative or vocational, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the vocative particle used with 'gairmeach' forms?
The vocative is introduced by the particle 'a', which lenites the noun, as in 'a Sheáin' in the tuiseal gairmeach.
Should I use 'gairmeach' or 'gairmiúil' for vocational?
'Gairmiúil' is the usual word for vocational or professional, while 'gairmeach' is mainly used for the grammatical vocative, as in 'an tuiseal gairmeach'.
