HeyRuaHow to say “to decline” in Irish
- Irish:
- meathlaigh
- English:
- to decline, decay, sicken
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- meathlú (ag meathlú, declining)
- Verbal adjective:
- meathlaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “MAH-lee” /ˈmʲahlˠiː/
What does “meathlaigh” mean?
“Meathlaigh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to decline
- To become gradually weaker, worse or smaller in strength or quality.Also: deteriorate, degenerate, wane.
“Meathlaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Mheathlaigh méI declined | Níor mheathlaigh méI did not decline | Ar mheathlaigh mé?Did I decline? |
| tú (you) | Mheathlaigh túYou declined | Níor mheathlaigh túYou did not decline | Ar mheathlaigh tú?Did you decline? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mheathlaigh sé / síHe declined | Níor mheathlaigh sé / síHe did not decline | Ar mheathlaigh sé / sí?Did he decline? |
| sinn (we) | MheathlaíomarWe declined | Níor mheathlaíomarWe did not decline | Ar mheathlaíomar?Did we decline? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mheathlaigh sibhYou declined | Níor mheathlaigh sibhYou did not decline | Ar mheathlaigh sibh?Did you decline? |
| siad (they) | Mheathlaigh siadThey declined | Níor mheathlaigh siadThey did not decline | Ar mheathlaigh siad?Did they decline? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Meathlaíodh | Níor meathlaíodh | Ar meathlaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MeathlaímI decline | Ní mheathlaímI do not decline | An meathlaím?Do I decline? |
| tú (you) | Meathlaíonn túYou decline | Ní mheathlaíonn túYou do not decline | An meathlaíonn tú?Do you decline? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Meathlaíonn sé / síHe declines | Ní mheathlaíonn sé / síHe does not decline | An meathlaíonn sé / sí?Does he decline? |
| sinn (we) | MeathlaímidWe decline | Ní mheathlaímidWe do not decline | An meathlaímid?Do we decline? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Meathlaíonn sibhYou decline | Ní mheathlaíonn sibhYou do not decline | An meathlaíonn sibh?Do you decline? |
| siad (they) | Meathlaíonn siadThey decline | Ní mheathlaíonn siadThey do not decline | An meathlaíonn siad?Do they decline? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Meathlaítear | Ní mheathlaítear | An meathlaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Meathlóidh méI will decline | Ní mheathlóidh méI will not decline | An meathlóidh mé?Will I decline? |
| tú (you) | Meathlóidh túYou will decline | Ní mheathlóidh túYou will not decline | An meathlóidh tú?Will you decline? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Meathlóidh sé / síHe will decline | Ní mheathlóidh sé / síHe will not decline | An meathlóidh sé / sí?Will he decline? |
| sinn (we) | MeathlóimidWe will decline | Ní mheathlóimidWe will not decline | An meathlóimid?Will we decline? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Meathlóidh sibhYou will decline | Ní mheathlóidh sibhYou will not decline | An meathlóidh sibh?Will you decline? |
| siad (they) | Meathlóidh siadThey will decline | Ní mheathlóidh siadThey will not decline | An meathlóidh siad?Will they decline? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Meathlófar | Ní mheathlófar | An meathlófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MheathlóinnI would decline | Ní mheathlóinnI would not decline | An meathlóinn?Would I decline? |
| tú (you) | MheathlófáYou would decline | Ní mheathlófáYou would not decline | An meathlófá?Would you decline? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mheathlódh sé / síHe would decline | Ní mheathlódh sé / síHe would not decline | An meathlódh sé / sí?Would he decline? |
| sinn (we) | MheathlóimisWe would decline | Ní mheathlóimisWe would not decline | An meathlóimis?Would we decline? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mheathlódh sibhYou would decline | Ní mheathlódh sibhYou would not decline | An meathlódh sibh?Would you decline? |
| siad (they) | MheathlóidísThey would decline | Ní mheathlóidísThey would not decline | An meathlóidís?Would they decline? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Mheathlófaí | Ní mheathlófaí | An meathlófaí? |
“Meathlaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Mheathlaigh a shláinte go mór anuraidh.
His health declined greatly last year.
Meathlaíonn na bláthanna gan uisce.
The flowers wither without water.
Meathlóidh an teanga mura labhraítear í.
The language will decline if it isn't spoken.
Mheathlódh an teach gan aire.
The house would decay without care.
Níor mheathlaigh an geilleagar i mbliana.
The economy did not decline this year.
Ar mheathlaigh an baile tar éis don mhonarcha dúnadh?
Did the town decline after the factory closed?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To decline in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to decline?
The Irish for to decline is meathlaigh (pronounced “MAH-lee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is meathlú.
What is the verbal noun of meathlaigh?
The verbal noun of meathlaigh is meathlú, used after ag for the continuous: ag meathlú (declining). The verbal adjective is meathlaithe.
How do you say meathlaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Mheathlaigh mé; negative Níor mheathlaigh mé; question Ar mheathlaigh mé?. Future: Meathlóidh mé; negative Ní mheathlóidh mé; question An meathlóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of meathlaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Mheathlóinn (I would decline); negative Ní mheathlóinn; question An meathlóinn?.
Does meathlaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Meathlaigh can mean to decline, to decay or to sicken, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'meathlaigh' and 'meath'?
Both mean decline or decay; 'meath' is the older first-conjugation verb (verbal noun 'meath'), while 'meathlaigh' (verbal noun 'meathlú') is common for gradual deterioration, as in 'meathlú na teanga'.
