HeyRuaHow to say “yellow” in Irish
- Irish:
- buí
- English:
- yellow, sallow, tanned
- Word type:
- adjective
- More yellow:
- níos buí
- Most yellow:
- is buí
- Pronunciation:
- “bwee” /bˠiː/
What does “buí” mean?
“Buí” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- yellow
- Having the colour of butter, lemons or egg yolk.Also: golden, lemon-coloured.
2 other meanings: sallow or tanned
- 2sallow
- Of skin or complexion, pale yellowish and unhealthy-looking.Also: jaundiced, yellowish.
- 3tanned
- Of skin, browned by the sun.Also: tan, sunburnt.
“Buí” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is buí after bláth (flower, masculine), after bróg (shoe, 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: bróg bhuí. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: bláth buí.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, buí. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: bróga buí.
More yellow, most yellow, very yellow
Tá an bláth seo níos buí ná an ceann sin. This flower is more yellow than that one.
| more yellow | níos buí | in the past tense: ní ba bhuí |
|---|---|---|
| most yellow | is buí | in the past tense: ba bhuí |
| as yellow as | chomh buí le | no change after chomh |
| very yellow | an-bhuí | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too yellow | róbhuí | ró- lenites |
“Buí” 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.
Yellow in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for yellow?
The Irish for yellow is buí (pronounced “bwee”). It comes after the noun: bláth buí, a yellow flower; bróg bhuí, a yellow shoe.
How do you say more yellow and most yellow in Irish?
níos buí is more yellow and is buí is most yellow. In the past tense they become ní ba bhuí and ba bhuí.
Why does buí become bhuí?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bróg bhuí (a yellow shoe) but bláth buí (a yellow flower), because bláth is masculine.
How do you say very yellow in Irish?
an-bhuí. Too yellow is róbhuí, and as yellow as is chomh buí le.
Does buí have more than one meaning?
Yes. Buí can mean yellow, sallow or tanned, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What does "a bhuí le" mean?
"A bhuí le" means "thanks to", as in "a bhuí le Dia" (thanks be to God) or "a bhuí leatsa" (thanks to you). Here "buí" is a noun meaning gratitude, not the colour.
How do I say orange in Irish?
Orange is "oráiste" or "flannbhuí", a compound built on "buí".
