foirfe
/ˈfˠɪɾʲəfʲə/
The Irish word for "perfect" is foirfe.
foirfe is used to describe something that is excellent and delightful in all respects. If you wish to communicate that something is merely "good enough" or "perfectly fine," you should use the phrase maith go leor instead. To amplify praise, you can combine terms for perfection with words like iontach (wonderful) or the term den scoth (great).
Meaning: excellent and delightful in all respects (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈfˠɪɾʲəfʲə/
Did you know?
- In Old Irish, the ancestor of this word, foirbthe, was used to describe someone who was 'old' or 'aged' as well as 'perfect'.
- The word foirfe is an adjective that does not change its form based on the gender of the noun it describes.
- If you describe a person as foirfe in a poetic context, you might be implying they have 'completed' their life cycle, hinting at their mortality.
Examples in context
- Is maith liom é, tá sé maith go leor.I like it, it's perfectly fine.
- Tá an aimsir foirfe.The weather is perfect.
Example conversation
Aoife and Cathal are deciding where to go for dinner.
- AoifeAn bhfuil an óla seo go maith?Is this drink good?
- CathalTá sé foirfe, a Aoife.It is perfect, Aoife.
- AoifeAn bhfuil tú sáte leis an áit seo?Are you happy with this place?
- CathalTá, tá sé foirfe.Yes, it is perfect.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry foirfe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries foirfe, CC BY-SA 4.0.
