HeyRuaHow to say “to breed” in Irish
- Irish:
- póraigh
- English:
- to breed, propagate
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- pórú (ag pórú, breeding)
- Verbal adjective:
- póraithe
- Pronunciation:
- “POHR-ee” /ˈpoːɾˠiː/
What does “póraigh” mean?
“Póraigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to breed
- To produce young or offspring, or to raise animals or plants by controlled mating.Also: reproduce, rear.
1 other meaning: propagate
- 2to propagate
- To grow plants from seed or make them multiply.Also: grow from seed, multiply.
“Póraigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Phóraigh méI bred | Níor phóraigh méI did not breed | Ar phóraigh mé?Did I breed? |
| tú (you) | Phóraigh túYou bred | Níor phóraigh túYou did not breed | Ar phóraigh tú?Did you breed? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Phóraigh sé / síHe bred | Níor phóraigh sé / síHe did not breed | Ar phóraigh sé / sí?Did he breed? |
| sinn (we) | PhóraíomarWe bred | Níor phóraíomarWe did not breed | Ar phóraíomar?Did we breed? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Phóraigh sibhYou bred | Níor phóraigh sibhYou did not breed | Ar phóraigh sibh?Did you breed? |
| siad (they) | Phóraigh siadThey bred | Níor phóraigh siadThey did not breed | Ar phóraigh siad?Did they breed? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Póraíodh | Níor póraíodh | Ar póraíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | PóraímI breed | Ní phóraímI do not breed | An bpóraím?Do I breed? |
| tú (you) | Póraíonn túYou breed | Ní phóraíonn túYou do not breed | An bpóraíonn tú?Do you breed? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Póraíonn sé / síHe breeds | Ní phóraíonn sé / síHe does not breed | An bpóraíonn sé / sí?Does he breed? |
| sinn (we) | PóraímidWe breed | Ní phóraímidWe do not breed | An bpóraímid?Do we breed? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Póraíonn sibhYou breed | Ní phóraíonn sibhYou do not breed | An bpóraíonn sibh?Do you breed? |
| siad (they) | Póraíonn siadThey breed | Ní phóraíonn siadThey do not breed | An bpóraíonn siad?Do they breed? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Póraítear | Ní phóraítear | An bpóraítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Póróidh méI will breed | Ní phóróidh méI will not breed | An bpóróidh mé?Will I breed? |
| tú (you) | Póróidh túYou will breed | Ní phóróidh túYou will not breed | An bpóróidh tú?Will you breed? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Póróidh sé / síHe will breed | Ní phóróidh sé / síHe will not breed | An bpóróidh sé / sí?Will he breed? |
| sinn (we) | PóróimidWe will breed | Ní phóróimidWe will not breed | An bpóróimid?Will we breed? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Póróidh sibhYou will breed | Ní phóróidh sibhYou will not breed | An bpóróidh sibh?Will you breed? |
| siad (they) | Póróidh siadThey will breed | Ní phóróidh siadThey will not breed | An bpóróidh siad?Will they breed? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Pórófar | Ní phórófar | An bpórófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | PhóróinnI would breed | Ní phóróinnI would not breed | An bpóróinn?Would I breed? |
| tú (you) | PhórófáYou would breed | Ní phórófáYou would not breed | An bpórófá?Would you breed? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Phóródh sé / síHe would breed | Ní phóródh sé / síHe would not breed | An bpóródh sé / sí?Would he breed? |
| sinn (we) | PhóróimisWe would breed | Ní phóróimisWe would not breed | An bpóróimis?Would we breed? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Phóródh sibhYou would breed | Ní phóródh sibhYou would not breed | An bpóródh sibh?Would you breed? |
| siad (they) | PhóróidísThey would breed | Ní phóróidísThey would not breed | An bpóróidís?Would they breed? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Phórófaí | Ní phórófaí | An bpórófaí? |
“Póraigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Phóraigh m'athair caoirigh ar an bhfeirm sin.
My father bred sheep on that farm.
Póraíonn coiníní go han-tapa.
Rabbits breed very quickly.
Póróimid capaill rása an bhliain seo chugainn.
We will breed racehorses next year.
Phóródh sé madraí dá mbeadh an spás aige.
He would breed dogs if he had the space.
Níor phóraigh na hainmhithe sa zú.
The animals did not breed in the zoo.
Ar phóraigh tú na plandaí seo ó shíol?
Did you grow these plants from seed?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To breed in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to breed?
The Irish for to breed is póraigh (pronounced “POHR-ee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is pórú.
What is the verbal noun of póraigh?
The verbal noun of póraigh is pórú, used after ag for the continuous: ag pórú (breeding). The verbal adjective is póraithe.
How do you say póraigh in the past and the future?
Past: Phóraigh mé; negative Níor phóraigh mé; question Ar phóraigh mé?. Future: Póróidh mé; negative Ní phóróidh mé; question An bpóróidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of póraigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Phóróinn (I would breed); negative Ní phóróinn; question An bpóróinn?.
Does póraigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Póraigh can mean to breed or to propagate, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is 'póraigh' different from 'síolraigh'?
Both can mean to breed or multiply, but 'póraigh' is the usual word for breeding livestock or propagating plants, while 'síolraigh' leans towards descending from or propagating by seed.
