Adjectives

1. mór

   Big

   Usage

   For stating size, e.g. clothes or rooms

   Grammar Note

   Irish adjectives follow the noun and lenite after a feminine noun: "bean mhór"

2. beag

   Small

   Usage

   The opposite of big; use it to ask for another size

   Grammar Note

   After a feminine noun it becomes "bheag"

3. trom

   Heavy

   Usage

   Describe a heavy bag, often before asking for help

   Grammar Note

   After a feminine noun it becomes "throm"

4. éadrom

   Light (weight)

   Usage

   Light in weight — a different word from "bright"

   Grammar Note

   Light in weight; light in colour is "geal"

5. daor

   Expensive

   Usage

   Opens a price negotiation

   Grammar Note

   After a feminine noun it becomes "dhaor"

6. saor

   Cheap

   Usage

   Use it when hunting for a cheaper option

   Grammar Note

   Means both "cheap" and "free"; free of charge is "saor in aisce"

7. te

   Hot

   Usage

   Hot to the touch — distinct from hot weather

   Grammar Note

   Hot to the touch; for weather Irish says "Tá sé te"

8. fuar

   Cold

   Usage

   Cold to the touch — distinct from cold weather

   Grammar Note

   Cold to the touch; for weather, "Tá sé fuar"

9. nua

   New

   Usage

   For asking for a new item or a different room

   Grammar Note

   It does not lenite after a feminine noun

10. sean

    Old (thing)

    Usage

    Old as in an object — not used for people here

    Grammar Note

    Old as in an object; it often prefixes the noun, e.g. "seanteach" (old house)

11. óg

    Young

    Usage

    For talking about a person's age

    Grammar Note

    It does not change after a feminine noun

12. aosta

    Old (person)

    Usage

    The word used for people; keep it apart from "old thing"

    Grammar Note

    The polite word for an aged person, from "aois" (age)

13. glan

    Clean

    Usage

    For the cleanliness of a room or of water

    Grammar Note

    "Clean" only; beautiful is "álainn"

14. salach

    Dirty

    Usage

    For complaints, e.g. asking to change rooms

    Grammar Note

    After a feminine noun it becomes "shalach"

15. maith

    Good

    Usage

    The most general word for a positive judgement

    Grammar Note

    After a feminine noun it becomes "mhaith"

16. dona

    Bad

    Usage

    For reporting something faulty or unwell

    Grammar Note

    After a feminine noun it becomes "dhona"

17. gar

    Near

    Usage

    Comes up constantly as an answer about distance

    Grammar Note

    "An bhfuil sé gar?" is the standard question; "in aice" (beside) is also common

18. i bhfad

    Far

    Usage

    Check it to decide between walking and taking transport

    Grammar Note

    An adverbial phrase; "An bhfuil sé i bhfad?" is the traveller's standard question

19. luath

    Early

    Usage

    Early in time — this entry is about the clock, not speed

    Grammar Note

    Early in time; fast in speed is "tapa"

20. mall

    Late

    Usage

    Late in time; also used to report a delay

    Grammar Note

    Late in time; it can also mean slow, so context decides

21. mórán

    Many

    Usage

    A large quantity; handy for adjusting an order

    Grammar Note

    Works for both count and amount

22. beagán

    Few

    Usage

    A small quantity; use it to ask for less

    Grammar Note

    Works for both count and amount

23. Tá sé te

    Hot (weather)

    Usage

    Hot weather; many languages use a different word than for hot objects

    Grammar Note

    Weather uses the dummy subject "sé"; the adjective is still "te"

24. Tá sé fuar

    Cold (weather)

    Usage

    Cold weather; many languages use a different word than for cold objects

    Grammar Note

    Weather uses the dummy subject "sé"; the adjective is still "fuar"

25. gleoite

    Cute

    Usage

    Used broadly for people, things, and animals

26. cool

    Cool

    Usage

    Mainly about looks; an English loanword common in everyday speech

27. blasta

    Delicious

    Usage

    The word you will reach for most often at the table

28. iontach

    Amazing

    Usage

    An expression of surprise and admiration

29. spraoiúil

    Fun

    Usage

    For describing an experience itself; the adjective form of the noun "spraoi" (fun)

30. níos mó

    More

    Usage

    Point at it to ask for more or a refill; the opposite is "níos lú" (less)

    Grammar Note

    The comparative of "mór" (big); used for both size and quantity

31. leath

    Half

    Usage

    Point at it to ask for half a portion; a half pint is "leathphionta"

    Grammar Note

    "Leath" is feminine; used as a prefix it lenites the following word ("leathphionta")

32. iomlán

    All / whole

    Usage

    Point at it to mean "all of it"; it also means a total sum ("an t-iomlán")

    Grammar Note

    Works as both adjective and noun; "everything" as a pronoun is "gach rud"

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