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<div class="pg_page_title">[[Language/Irish|Irish]]  → [[Language/Irish/Grammar|Grammar]] → [[Language/Irish/Grammar/0-to-A1-Course|0 to A1 Course]] → Descriptive Adjectives</div>
Welcome to another exciting lesson in our "Complete 0 to A1 Irish Course"! Today, we will dive into the wonderful world of '''descriptive adjectives''' in Irish. Adjectives are essential in any language, as they allow us to add color, size, and emotions to our communication. Imagine trying to describe a beautiful sunset or a fluffy puppy without using adjectives—it's quite difficult, isn't it?
In this lesson, we will explore how to use descriptive adjectives to enhance your conversations in Irish. We’ll cover a variety of adjectives, including those that describe '''colors''', '''sizes''', and '''shapes'''. By the end of this lesson, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to make your sentences more vivid and expressive.
Here’s a brief outline of what we’ll be covering today:
* Introduction to Descriptive Adjectives
* Types of Descriptive Adjectives


<div class="pg_page_title">[[Language/Irish|Irish]]  → [[Language/Irish/Grammar|Grammar]] → [[Language/Irish/Grammar/0-to-A1-Course|0 to A1 Course]] → Adjectives and Adverbs → Descriptive Adjectives</div>
* Colors
 
* Sizes
 
* Shapes
 
* Examples of Descriptive Adjectives in Context
 
* Exercises to Practice Descriptive Adjectives
 
* Answers and Explanations for the Exercises


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__TOC__


<h1>Descriptive Adjectives in Irish</h1>
=== Introduction to Descriptive Adjectives ===
 
Descriptive adjectives are words that describe nouns, providing additional information about them. In Irish, as in English, adjectives can describe various qualities—such as appearance, size, and shape. They play a crucial role in making our speech and writing more engaging and are essential for creating vivid imagery.
 
In Irish, adjectives generally follow the noun they describe. For example, “a big house” in English translates to “teach mór” in Irish, where “teach” (house) comes first, followed by the adjective “mór” (big).
 
=== Types of Descriptive Adjectives ===
 
In this section, we will explore three main types of descriptive adjectives: colors, sizes, and shapes.
 
==== Colors ====
 
Colors are a delightful way to add depth to your descriptions. Here are some common colors in Irish:
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
! Irish !! Pronunciation !! English
 
|-
 
| dearg  || /dʲaɾɡ/ || red
 
|-
 
| gorm  || /ɡoɾm/ || blue
 
|-
 
| green  || /ɡriːn/ || green
 
|-
 
| buí  || /bʊiː/ || yellow
 
|-
 
| bán  || /bɑːn/ || white
 
|-
 
| dubh  || /dʊv/ || black
 
|-
 
| oráiste  || /oːɾaʃtə/ || orange
 
|-
 
| corcra  || /kɔɾkʲɾa/ || purple


<p>
|-
Descriptive adjectives are a type of adjective used in Irish to describe nouns. They provide additional information about the noun they refer to, such as color, size, and shape. In this lesson, we will learn how to use descriptive adjectives in Irish.
</p>


<h2>How to Use Descriptive Adjectives in Irish</h2>
| gorm  || /ɡoɾm/ || blue


<p>
|-
In Irish, descriptive adjectives are placed after the noun they describe. They agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.
</p>


<p>
| donn  || /dɔnn/ || brown
Here are some examples:
</p>


<table class="wikitable">
|}
  <tr>
    <th>Irish</th>
    <th>Pronunciation</th>
    <th>English</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Buachaill<b> deas</b></td>
    <td>boo-uh-khuhl jas</td>
    <td>handsome boy</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Madra<b> mór</b></td>
    <td>mah-druh mohr</td>
    <td>big dog</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Leabhar<b> nua</b></td>
    <td>loh-wuhr noo-uh</td>
    <td>new book</td>
  </tr>
</table>


<p>
Now that you have some basic colors, let's see how to use them in sentences:
In the examples above, the adjectives "deas", "mór", and "nua" agree with the nouns "buachaill", "madra", and "leabhar" in gender, number, and case.
</p>


<h2>Gender in Irish Descriptive Adjectives</h2>
* '''An cat dubh''' (The black cat)


<p>
* '''An teach bán''' (The white house)
Irish has two genders: masculine and feminine. Most Irish nouns that refer to males are masculine, and most nouns that refer to females are feminine. However, there are exceptions, and some nouns can be either masculine or feminine.
</p>


<p>
* '''An peann gorm''' (The blue pen)
In Irish, descriptive adjectives change their endings to agree with the gender of the noun they describe. Here are some examples:
</p>


<table class="wikitable">
==== Sizes ====
  <tr>
    <th>Irish</th>
    <th>Pronunciation</th>
    <th>English</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Dreoilín<b> chaoin</b></td>
    <td>dray-uh-leen kee-in</td>
    <td>gentle wren</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Páiste<b> ciúin</b></td>
    <td>paw-shtuh kyoo-in</td>
    <td>quiet child</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Madra<b> mhaith</b></td>
    <td>mah-druh wah</td>
    <td>good dog</td>
  </tr>
</table>


<p>
Next, let's look at adjectives that describe size. Here are some common size adjectives in Irish:
In the examples above, the adjectives "chaoin" and "ciúin" are feminine, and the adjective "mhaith" is masculine. They agree with the gender of the nouns "dreoilín", "páiste", and "madra".
</p>


<h2>Number in Irish Descriptive Adjectives</h2>
{| class="wikitable"


<p>
! Irish !! Pronunciation !! English
Like nouns, descriptive adjectives in Irish can also be singular or plural. They change their endings to agree with the number of the noun they describe. Here are some examples:
</p>


<table class="wikitable">
|-
  <tr>
    <th>Irish</th>
    <th>Pronunciation</th>
    <th>English</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Cóta<b> bán</b></td>
    <td>koh-tuh bawn</td>
    <td>white coat</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Cótaí<b> bána</b></td>
    <td>koh-tee baw-nuh</td>
    <td>white coats</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Ceann<b> dearg</b></td>
    <td>kyunn djar-ug</td>
    <td>red head</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Cinn<b> dearga</b></td>
    <td>kinn djar-ug-uh</td>
    <td>red heads</td>
  </tr>
</table>


<p>
| mór  || /moːɾ/ || big
In the examples above, the adjectives "bán" and "dearg" are singular, and the adjectives "bána" and "dearga" are plural. They agree with the number of the nouns "cóta" and "ceann".
</p>


<h2>Case in Irish Descriptive Adjectives</h2>
|-


<p>
| beag  || /bʲaɡ/ || small
Irish has four cases: nominative, genitive, dative, and accusative. Descriptive adjectives in Irish change their endings to agree with the case of the noun they describe. Here are some examples:
</p>


<table class="wikitable">
|-
  <tr>
    <th>Irish</th>
    <th>Pronunciation</th>
    <th>English</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>An duine<b> deas</b></td>
    <td>uhn din-uh jas</td>
    <td>the handsome person</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Leabhar<b> an tsagairt</b></td>
    <td>loh-wuhr uhn t(y)ag-uhrt</td>
    <td>the priest's book</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>An madra<b> seo</b></td>
    <td>uhn mah-druh shuh</td>
    <td>this dog</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Arán<b> duit</b></td>
    <td>ahr-awn dit</td>
    <td>bread for you</td>
  </tr>
</table>


<p>
| ard  || /aːɾd/ || tall
In the examples above, the adjectives "deas" and "seo" are in the nominative case, the adjective "tsagairt" is in the genitive case, and the adjective "duit" is in the dative case.
</p>


<h2>Examples of Descriptive Adjectives in Irish</h2>
|-


<p>
| íseal  || /iːʃəl/ || low
Here are some common descriptive adjectives in Irish:
</p>


<ul>
|-
  <li><b>Bán:</b> white</li>
  <li><b>Dearga:</b> red</li>
  <li><b>Donn:</b> brown</li>
  <li><b>Fionn:</b> fair</li>
  <li><b>Gorm:</b> blue</li>
  <li><b>Glas:</b> green</li>
  <li><b>Leathair:</b> leather</li>
  <li><b>Líne:</b> linen</li>
  <li><b>Meánchúl:</b> medium-sized</li>
  <li><b>Mhór:</b> big</li>
  <li><b>Nua:</b> new</li>
  <li><b>Rua:</b> red</li>
  <li><b>Seacláid:</b> chocolate</li>
  <li><b>Seamróg:</b> shamrock</li>
</ul>


<h2>Practice</h2>
| leathan  || /lʲahən/ || wide


<p>
|-
Now that you have learned about descriptive adjectives in Irish, let's practice! Translate the following phrases into Irish:
</p>


<ol>
| caol  || /kʲiːl/ || narrow
  <li>Green book</li>
  <li>Big house</li>
  <li>Small dog</li>
  <li>Brown eyes</li>
  <li>Red wine</li>
</ol>


<p>
|-
Check your answers below:
</p>


<table class="wikitable">
| tiubh  || /tʲiːv/ || thick
  <tr>
    <th>English</th>
    <th>Irish</th>
    <th>Pronunciation</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Green book</td>
    <td>Leabhar <b>glasa</b></td>
    <td>loh-wuhr gluh-suh</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Big house</td>
    <td>Tithean <b>mhór</b></td>
    <td>ti-hen wohr</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Small dog</td>
    <td>Madra<b> beag</b></td>
    <td>mah-druh byug</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Brown eyes</td>
    <td>Súile<b> donna</b></td>
    <td>soo-uh-leh (d)un-uh</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Red wine</td>
    <td>Fíon<b> rua</b></td>
    <td>fyun roo-uh</td>
  </tr>
</table>


<h2>Conclusion</h2>
|-


<p>
| tanaí  || /t̪ˠaːnˠiː/ || thin
In this lesson, we learned how to use descriptive adjectives in Irish to describe nouns. We also learned about gender, number, and case agreement in Irish adjectives. Keep practicing, and don't forget to check out the next lesson on comparative and superlative adjectives in Irish!
 
</p>
|-
 
| domhain  || /ˈdoʊvən/ || deep
 
|-
 
| drom  || /dɾʊm/ || shallow
 
|}
 
Here are examples of size adjectives used in sentences:
 
* '''An t-ull mór''' (The big apple)
 
* '''An ciseán beag''' (The small basket)
 
* '''An doras ard''' (The tall door)
 
==== Shapes ====
 
Finally, we have adjectives that describe shapes. Here are some common shape adjectives in Irish:
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
! Irish !! Pronunciation !! English
 
|-
 
| ciorclach  || /kʲiːɾkl̪ˠaɡ/ || circular
 
|-
 
| dronuilleach  || /dɾoʊnʊlʲaɡ/ || triangular
 
|-
 
| cearnógach  || /kʲaɾnɔːɡaɡ/ || square
 
|-
 
| duill  || /dʲuːlʲ/ || leaf-shaped
 
|-
 
| comhthrom  || /kʊmˈhɾ̪ˠɔm/ || symmetrical
 
|-
 
| fada  || /fˠɑːdə/ || long
 
|-
 
| gearr  || /ɡʲɛɾ/ || short
 
|-
 
| dorcha  || /ˈd̪ˠoːɾxə/ || dark
 
|-
 
| soiléir  || /sˠoːlʲeːɾʲ/ || clear
 
|-
 
| snáithe  || /sˠnˠaːhə/ || thread-like
 
|}
 
Let's see some of these shape adjectives in action:
 
* '''An t-ábhar ciorclach''' (The circular object)
 
* '''An t-ábhar cearnógach''' (The square object)
 
* '''An comhlacht dronuilleach''' (The triangular shape)
 
== Examples of Descriptive Adjectives in Context ==
 
Now that we have covered colors, sizes, and shapes, let's see how to combine these adjectives in sentences. Here are 20 examples that illustrate how to use descriptive adjectives in Irish:
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
! Irish !! Pronunciation !! English
 
|-
 
| An cat beag dubh || /ən kat bʲaɡ dʊv/ || The small black cat
 
|-
 
| An t-ull gorm mór || /ən t̪ˠʊl ɡoɾm moːɾ/ || The big blue apple
 
|-
 
| An teach bán leathan || /ən tʲax bɑːn ˈlʲaːhən/ || The wide white house
 
|-
 
| An peann oráiste gearr || /ən pʲan oːɾaʃtə ɡʲɛɾ/ || The short orange pen
 
|-
 
| An doras ard dubh || /ən d̪ˠoːɾəs aːɾd dʊv/ || The tall black door
 
|-
 
| An ciseán mór corcra || /ən kʲiːˈsʲaːn moːɾ ˈkɔɾkʲɾa/ || The big purple basket
 
|-
 
| An gairdín beag gorm || /ən ɡaːɾˠdʲiːn bʲaɡ ɡoɾm/ || The small blue garden
 
|-
 
| An leabhar mór buí || /ən lʲoːəʁ moːɾ bʊi/ || The big yellow book
 
|-
 
| An t-amhrán dearg || /ən ˈaːwɾˠɑːn dʲaɾɡ/ || The red song
 
|-
 
| An bórd leathan dubh || /ən bˠoːɾd ˈlʲaːhən dʊv/ || The wide black table
 
|-
 
| An t-ainmhí beag bán || /ən t̪ˠanʲiː bʲaɡ bɑːn/ || The small white animal
 
|-
 
| An uisce domhain || /ən ˈɪʃkʲə ˈdoʊvən/ || The deep water
 
|-
 
| An crónán dorcha || /ən ˈkɾoːn̪ˠaːn ˈd̪ˠoːɾxə/ || The dark crow
 
|-
 
| An mála mór seaca || /ən mˠaːl̪ˠa moːɾ ˈʃɛkə/ || The big green bag
 
|-
 
| An bosca ciorclach || /ən ˈbɔsˠkə kʲiːɾkl̪ˠaɡ/ || The circular box
 
|-
 
| An rón leathan || /ən ɾoːn ˈlʲaːhən/ || The wide seal
 
|-
 
| An bior gorm || /ən bʲiːəɾ ɡoɾm/ || The blue needle
 
|-
 
| An cóta beag donn || /ən ˈkoːtə bʲaɡ dɔnn/ || The small brown coat
 
|-
 
| An t-amhrán beag || /ən ˈaːwɾˠɑːn bʲaɡ/ || The small song
 
|-
 
| An t-ainmhí mór || /ən t̪ˠanʲiː moːɾ/ || The big animal
 
|-
 
| An craobh gorm || /ən kɾiːv ɡoɾm/ || The blue branch
 
|-
 
| An t-úll mór || /ən ˈuːl̪ˠ moːɾ/ || The big apple
 
|}
 
== Exercises to Practice Descriptive Adjectives ==
 
Now that we have explored the world of descriptive adjectives and seen them in action, it's time to put your knowledge to the test! Here are 10 exercises for you to practice:
 
=== Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks ===
 
Complete the sentences with the correct adjective (color, size, or shape):
 
1. An _____ (big) cat.
 
2. An _____ (small) house.
 
3. An _____ (red) apple.
 
4. An _____ (tall) tree.
 
5. An _____ (blue) pen.
 
=== Exercise 2: Matching ===
 
Match the Irish adjectives with their English translations:
 
1. mór          A. yellow 
 
2. beag        B. small 
 
3. dearg        C. big 
 
4. buí          D. red 
 
5. gorm        E. blue 
 
=== Exercise 3: Create Your Own Sentences ===
 
Using the adjectives provided, create your own sentences in Irish:
 
1. (green, big, tree)
 
2. (small, black, dog)
 
3. (tall, blue, building)
 
4. (yellow, circular, ball)
 
5. (brown, small, book)
 
=== Exercise 4: Translate to Irish ===
 
Translate the following sentences into Irish:
 
1. The big black cat.
 
2. The small white dog.
 
3. The blue round ball.
 
4. The tall green tree.
 
5. The thick brown book.
 
=== Exercise 5: Adjective Identification ===
 
Identify the adjectives in the following sentence: "The small yellow flower is in the big garden."
 
=== Exercise 6: Short Answer Questions ===
 
Answer the following questions in Irish:
 
1. What color is the sky?
 
2. What size is your house?
 
3. What shape is the table?
 
=== Exercise 7: Descriptive Drawing ===
 
Draw an object (e.g., a house, a tree) and label it with at least three adjectives in Irish.
 
=== Exercise 8: True or False ===
 
Determine if the following statements are true or false:
 
1. "mór" means "small."
 
2. "dearg" means "blue."
 
3. "bán" means "white."
 
4. "caol" means "wide."
 
5. "gorm" means "green."
 
=== Exercise 9: Fill in the Correct Form ===
 
Fill in the correct form of the adjective in the sentence:
 
1. An _____ (big) cat is on the chair.
 
2. The _____ (green) tree is in the garden.
 
3. I see a _____ (red) car.
 
=== Exercise 10: Create a Story ===
 
Write a short story in Irish using at least five different descriptive adjectives.
 
== Answers and Explanations for the Exercises ==
 
Here are the answers and explanations for the exercises:
 
=== Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks ===
 
1. mór (big)
 
2. beag (small)
 
3. dearg (red)
 
4. ard (tall)
 
5. gorm (blue)
 
=== Exercise 2: Matching ===
 
1 - C, 2 - B, 3 - D, 4 - A, 5 - E
 
=== Exercise 3: Create Your Own Sentences ===
 
1. An crann mór gorm. (The big green tree.)
 
2. An con beag dubh. (The small black dog.)
 
3. An foirgneamh ard gorm. (The tall blue building.)
 
4. An liathróid bhán chiorclach. (The white circular ball.)
 
5. An leabhar beag donn. (The small brown book.)
 
=== Exercise 4: Translate to Irish ===
 
1. An cat mór dubh. (The big black cat.)
 
2. An madra beag bán. (The small white dog.)
 
3. An liathróid chiorclach gorm. (The blue round ball.)
 
4. An crann ard glas. (The tall green tree.)
 
5. An leabhar tiubh donn. (The thick brown book.)
 
=== Exercise 5: Adjective Identification ===
 
Adjectives: small, yellow, big
 
=== Exercise 6: Short Answer Questions ===
 
1. An dath na spéire gorm. (The color of the sky is blue.)
 
2. Is teach mór é mo theach. (My house is big.)
 
3. Is comhla ard é an tábla. (The table is tall.)
 
=== Exercise 7: Descriptive Drawing ===
 
Students should create their own drawings and label them with adjectives.
 
=== Exercise 8: True or False ===
 
1. False
 
2. False
 
3. True
 
4. False
 
5. True
 
=== Exercise 9: Fill in the Correct Form ===
 
1. mór (big)
 
2. gorm (green)
 
3. dearg (red)
 
=== Exercise 10: Create a Story ===
 
Students should write their own short stories incorporating adjectives.
 
Congratulations on completing this lesson on descriptive adjectives! We hope you enjoyed learning about how to describe nouns in Irish. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be painting vibrant pictures with your words!


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|keywords=Irish grammar, adjectives in Irish, Irish language courses, complete Irish course, Irish adjectives, Irish descriptive adjectives
|title=Learn Descriptive Adjectives in Irish
|description=Learn how to use adjectives in Irish to describe nouns, such as colors, sizes, and shapes. In this lesson, we will cover the basics of Irish descriptive adjectives.
 
|keywords=Irish adjectives, descriptive adjectives, learn Irish, beginner Irish, Irish grammar
 
|description=In this lesson, you will learn how to use descriptive adjectives in Irish to describe nouns, including colors, sizes, and shapes.
 
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==Sources==
* [https://www.bitesize.irish/blog/irish-gaelic-grammar/ Irish Gaelic Grammar]
* [https://www.twinkl.co.uk/teaching-wiki/irish-adjectives What are Irish adjectives? Teaching Wiki - Twinkl]




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* [[Language/Irish/Grammar/Plurals|Plurals]]
* [[Language/Irish/Grammar/Plurals|Plurals]]
* [[Language/Irish/Grammar/Question-Words|Question Words]]
* [[Language/Irish/Grammar/Question-Words|Question Words]]


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|[[Language/Irish/Vocabulary/Arts-and-Entertainment|◀️ Arts and Entertainment — Previous Lesson]]
|[[Language/Irish/Grammar/Comparative-and-Superlative|Next Lesson — Comparative and Superlative ▶️]]
|}
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Latest revision as of 13:12, 2 August 2024

◀️ Arts and Entertainment — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Comparative and Superlative ▶️

Irish-language-polyglotclub.jpg
Irish → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Descriptive Adjectives

Welcome to another exciting lesson in our "Complete 0 to A1 Irish Course"! Today, we will dive into the wonderful world of descriptive adjectives in Irish. Adjectives are essential in any language, as they allow us to add color, size, and emotions to our communication. Imagine trying to describe a beautiful sunset or a fluffy puppy without using adjectives—it's quite difficult, isn't it?

In this lesson, we will explore how to use descriptive adjectives to enhance your conversations in Irish. We’ll cover a variety of adjectives, including those that describe colors, sizes, and shapes. By the end of this lesson, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to make your sentences more vivid and expressive.

Here’s a brief outline of what we’ll be covering today:

  • Introduction to Descriptive Adjectives
  • Types of Descriptive Adjectives
  • Colors
  • Sizes
  • Shapes
  • Examples of Descriptive Adjectives in Context
  • Exercises to Practice Descriptive Adjectives
  • Answers and Explanations for the Exercises

Introduction to Descriptive Adjectives[edit | edit source]

Descriptive adjectives are words that describe nouns, providing additional information about them. In Irish, as in English, adjectives can describe various qualities—such as appearance, size, and shape. They play a crucial role in making our speech and writing more engaging and are essential for creating vivid imagery.

In Irish, adjectives generally follow the noun they describe. For example, “a big house” in English translates to “teach mór” in Irish, where “teach” (house) comes first, followed by the adjective “mór” (big).

Types of Descriptive Adjectives[edit | edit source]

In this section, we will explore three main types of descriptive adjectives: colors, sizes, and shapes.

Colors[edit | edit source]

Colors are a delightful way to add depth to your descriptions. Here are some common colors in Irish:

Irish Pronunciation English
dearg /dʲaɾɡ/ red
gorm /ɡoɾm/ blue
green /ɡriːn/ green
buí /bʊiː/ yellow
bán /bɑːn/ white
dubh /dʊv/ black
oráiste /oːɾaʃtə/ orange
corcra /kɔɾkʲɾa/ purple
gorm /ɡoɾm/ blue
donn /dɔnn/ brown

Now that you have some basic colors, let's see how to use them in sentences:

  • An cat dubh (The black cat)
  • An teach bán (The white house)
  • An peann gorm (The blue pen)

Sizes[edit | edit source]

Next, let's look at adjectives that describe size. Here are some common size adjectives in Irish:

Irish Pronunciation English
mór /moːɾ/ big
beag /bʲaɡ/ small
ard /aːɾd/ tall
íseal /iːʃəl/ low
leathan /lʲahən/ wide
caol /kʲiːl/ narrow
tiubh /tʲiːv/ thick
tanaí /t̪ˠaːnˠiː/ thin
domhain /ˈdoʊvən/ deep
drom /dɾʊm/ shallow

Here are examples of size adjectives used in sentences:

  • An t-ull mór (The big apple)
  • An ciseán beag (The small basket)
  • An doras ard (The tall door)

Shapes[edit | edit source]

Finally, we have adjectives that describe shapes. Here are some common shape adjectives in Irish:

Irish Pronunciation English
ciorclach /kʲiːɾkl̪ˠaɡ/ circular
dronuilleach /dɾoʊnʊlʲaɡ/ triangular
cearnógach /kʲaɾnɔːɡaɡ/ square
duill /dʲuːlʲ/ leaf-shaped
comhthrom /kʊmˈhɾ̪ˠɔm/ symmetrical
fada /fˠɑːdə/ long
gearr /ɡʲɛɾ/ short
dorcha /ˈd̪ˠoːɾxə/ dark
soiléir /sˠoːlʲeːɾʲ/ clear
snáithe /sˠnˠaːhə/ thread-like

Let's see some of these shape adjectives in action:

  • An t-ábhar ciorclach (The circular object)
  • An t-ábhar cearnógach (The square object)
  • An comhlacht dronuilleach (The triangular shape)

Examples of Descriptive Adjectives in Context[edit | edit source]

Now that we have covered colors, sizes, and shapes, let's see how to combine these adjectives in sentences. Here are 20 examples that illustrate how to use descriptive adjectives in Irish:

Irish Pronunciation English
An cat beag dubh /ən kat bʲaɡ dʊv/ The small black cat
An t-ull gorm mór /ən t̪ˠʊl ɡoɾm moːɾ/ The big blue apple
An teach bán leathan /ən tʲax bɑːn ˈlʲaːhən/ The wide white house
An peann oráiste gearr /ən pʲan oːɾaʃtə ɡʲɛɾ/ The short orange pen
An doras ard dubh /ən d̪ˠoːɾəs aːɾd dʊv/ The tall black door
An ciseán mór corcra /ən kʲiːˈsʲaːn moːɾ ˈkɔɾkʲɾa/ The big purple basket
An gairdín beag gorm /ən ɡaːɾˠdʲiːn bʲaɡ ɡoɾm/ The small blue garden
An leabhar mór buí /ən lʲoːəʁ moːɾ bʊi/ The big yellow book
An t-amhrán dearg /ən ˈaːwɾˠɑːn dʲaɾɡ/ The red song
An bórd leathan dubh /ən bˠoːɾd ˈlʲaːhən dʊv/ The wide black table
An t-ainmhí beag bán /ən t̪ˠanʲiː bʲaɡ bɑːn/ The small white animal
An uisce domhain /ən ˈɪʃkʲə ˈdoʊvən/ The deep water
An crónán dorcha /ən ˈkɾoːn̪ˠaːn ˈd̪ˠoːɾxə/ The dark crow
An mála mór seaca /ən mˠaːl̪ˠa moːɾ ˈʃɛkə/ The big green bag
An bosca ciorclach /ən ˈbɔsˠkə kʲiːɾkl̪ˠaɡ/ The circular box
An rón leathan /ən ɾoːn ˈlʲaːhən/ The wide seal
An bior gorm /ən bʲiːəɾ ɡoɾm/ The blue needle
An cóta beag donn /ən ˈkoːtə bʲaɡ dɔnn/ The small brown coat
An t-amhrán beag /ən ˈaːwɾˠɑːn bʲaɡ/ The small song
An t-ainmhí mór /ən t̪ˠanʲiː moːɾ/ The big animal
An craobh gorm /ən kɾiːv ɡoɾm/ The blue branch
An t-úll mór /ən ˈuːl̪ˠ moːɾ/ The big apple

Exercises to Practice Descriptive Adjectives[edit | edit source]

Now that we have explored the world of descriptive adjectives and seen them in action, it's time to put your knowledge to the test! Here are 10 exercises for you to practice:

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks[edit | edit source]

Complete the sentences with the correct adjective (color, size, or shape):

1. An _____ (big) cat.

2. An _____ (small) house.

3. An _____ (red) apple.

4. An _____ (tall) tree.

5. An _____ (blue) pen.

Exercise 2: Matching[edit | edit source]

Match the Irish adjectives with their English translations:

1. mór A. yellow

2. beag B. small

3. dearg C. big

4. buí D. red

5. gorm E. blue

Exercise 3: Create Your Own Sentences[edit | edit source]

Using the adjectives provided, create your own sentences in Irish:

1. (green, big, tree)

2. (small, black, dog)

3. (tall, blue, building)

4. (yellow, circular, ball)

5. (brown, small, book)

Exercise 4: Translate to Irish[edit | edit source]

Translate the following sentences into Irish:

1. The big black cat.

2. The small white dog.

3. The blue round ball.

4. The tall green tree.

5. The thick brown book.

Exercise 5: Adjective Identification[edit | edit source]

Identify the adjectives in the following sentence: "The small yellow flower is in the big garden."

Exercise 6: Short Answer Questions[edit | edit source]

Answer the following questions in Irish:

1. What color is the sky?

2. What size is your house?

3. What shape is the table?

Exercise 7: Descriptive Drawing[edit | edit source]

Draw an object (e.g., a house, a tree) and label it with at least three adjectives in Irish.

Exercise 8: True or False[edit | edit source]

Determine if the following statements are true or false:

1. "mór" means "small."

2. "dearg" means "blue."

3. "bán" means "white."

4. "caol" means "wide."

5. "gorm" means "green."

Exercise 9: Fill in the Correct Form[edit | edit source]

Fill in the correct form of the adjective in the sentence:

1. An _____ (big) cat is on the chair.

2. The _____ (green) tree is in the garden.

3. I see a _____ (red) car.

Exercise 10: Create a Story[edit | edit source]

Write a short story in Irish using at least five different descriptive adjectives.

Answers and Explanations for the Exercises[edit | edit source]

Here are the answers and explanations for the exercises:

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks[edit | edit source]

1. mór (big)

2. beag (small)

3. dearg (red)

4. ard (tall)

5. gorm (blue)

Exercise 2: Matching[edit | edit source]

1 - C, 2 - B, 3 - D, 4 - A, 5 - E

Exercise 3: Create Your Own Sentences[edit | edit source]

1. An crann mór gorm. (The big green tree.)

2. An con beag dubh. (The small black dog.)

3. An foirgneamh ard gorm. (The tall blue building.)

4. An liathróid bhán chiorclach. (The white circular ball.)

5. An leabhar beag donn. (The small brown book.)

Exercise 4: Translate to Irish[edit | edit source]

1. An cat mór dubh. (The big black cat.)

2. An madra beag bán. (The small white dog.)

3. An liathróid chiorclach gorm. (The blue round ball.)

4. An crann ard glas. (The tall green tree.)

5. An leabhar tiubh donn. (The thick brown book.)

Exercise 5: Adjective Identification[edit | edit source]

Adjectives: small, yellow, big

Exercise 6: Short Answer Questions[edit | edit source]

1. An dath na spéire gorm. (The color of the sky is blue.)

2. Is teach mór é mo theach. (My house is big.)

3. Is comhla ard é an tábla. (The table is tall.)

Exercise 7: Descriptive Drawing[edit | edit source]

Students should create their own drawings and label them with adjectives.

Exercise 8: True or False[edit | edit source]

1. False

2. False

3. True

4. False

5. True

Exercise 9: Fill in the Correct Form[edit | edit source]

1. mór (big)

2. gorm (green)

3. dearg (red)

Exercise 10: Create a Story[edit | edit source]

Students should write their own short stories incorporating adjectives.

Congratulations on completing this lesson on descriptive adjectives! We hope you enjoyed learning about how to describe nouns in Irish. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be painting vibrant pictures with your words!

Table of Contents - Irish Course - 0 to A1[edit source]


Greetings and Introductions


Basic Sentence Structure


Numbers and Time


Questions and Answers


Family and Relationships


Possession and Pronouns


Food and Drink


Verb Conjugation


Hobbies and Activities


Adjectives and Adverbs


Travel and Transportation


Prepositions


Weather and Seasons


Irish History and Culture


Irish Literature and Folklore

Sources[edit | edit source]


Other Lessons[edit | edit source]




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