HeyRuaHow to say “to distinguish” in Irish
- Irish:
- idirdhealaigh
- English:
- to distinguish, discriminate
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- idirdhealú (ag idirdhealú, distinguishing)
- Verbal adjective:
- idirdhealaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “ID-ir-yal-ee” /ˈɪdʲəɾʲˌjalˠiː/
What does “idirdhealaigh” mean?
“Idirdhealaigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to distinguish
- To see or show the difference between two or more things.Also: differentiate, tell apart, discriminate between.
1 other meaning: discriminate
- 2to discriminate
- To treat a person or group unfairly or differently from others.Also: discriminate against, treat unfairly.
“Idirdhealaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'idirdhealaigh méI distinguished | Níor idirdhealaigh méI did not distinguish | Ar idirdhealaigh mé?Did I distinguish? |
| tú (you) | D'idirdhealaigh túYou distinguished | Níor idirdhealaigh túYou did not distinguish | Ar idirdhealaigh tú?Did you distinguish? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'idirdhealaigh sé / síHe distinguished | Níor idirdhealaigh sé / síHe did not distinguish | Ar idirdhealaigh sé / sí?Did he distinguish? |
| sinn (we) | D'idirdhealaíomarWe distinguished | Níor idirdhealaíomarWe did not distinguish | Ar idirdhealaíomar?Did we distinguish? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'idirdhealaigh sibhYou distinguished | Níor idirdhealaigh sibhYou did not distinguish | Ar idirdhealaigh sibh?Did you distinguish? |
| siad (they) | D'idirdhealaigh siadThey distinguished | Níor idirdhealaigh siadThey did not distinguish | Ar idirdhealaigh siad?Did they distinguish? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Idirdhealaíodh | Níor idirdhealaíodh | Ar idirdhealaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | IdirdhealaímI distinguish | Ní idirdhealaímI do not distinguish | An idirdhealaím?Do I distinguish? |
| tú (you) | Idirdhealaíonn túYou distinguish | Ní idirdhealaíonn túYou do not distinguish | An idirdhealaíonn tú?Do you distinguish? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Idirdhealaíonn sé / síHe distinguishes | Ní idirdhealaíonn sé / síHe does not distinguish | An idirdhealaíonn sé / sí?Does he distinguish? |
| sinn (we) | IdirdhealaímidWe distinguish | Ní idirdhealaímidWe do not distinguish | An idirdhealaímid?Do we distinguish? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Idirdhealaíonn sibhYou distinguish | Ní idirdhealaíonn sibhYou do not distinguish | An idirdhealaíonn sibh?Do you distinguish? |
| siad (they) | Idirdhealaíonn siadThey distinguish | Ní idirdhealaíonn siadThey do not distinguish | An idirdhealaíonn siad?Do they distinguish? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Idirdhealaítear | Ní idirdhealaítear | An idirdhealaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Idirdhealóidh méI will distinguish | Ní idirdhealóidh méI will not distinguish | An idirdhealóidh mé?Will I distinguish? |
| tú (you) | Idirdhealóidh túYou will distinguish | Ní idirdhealóidh túYou will not distinguish | An idirdhealóidh tú?Will you distinguish? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Idirdhealóidh sé / síHe will distinguish | Ní idirdhealóidh sé / síHe will not distinguish | An idirdhealóidh sé / sí?Will he distinguish? |
| sinn (we) | IdirdhealóimidWe will distinguish | Ní idirdhealóimidWe will not distinguish | An idirdhealóimid?Will we distinguish? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Idirdhealóidh sibhYou will distinguish | Ní idirdhealóidh sibhYou will not distinguish | An idirdhealóidh sibh?Will you distinguish? |
| siad (they) | Idirdhealóidh siadThey will distinguish | Ní idirdhealóidh siadThey will not distinguish | An idirdhealóidh siad?Will they distinguish? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Idirdhealófar | Ní idirdhealófar | An idirdhealófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'idirdhealóinnI would distinguish | Ní idirdhealóinnI would not distinguish | An idirdhealóinn?Would I distinguish? |
| tú (you) | D'idirdhealófáYou would distinguish | Ní idirdhealófáYou would not distinguish | An idirdhealófá?Would you distinguish? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'idirdhealódh sé / síHe would distinguish | Ní idirdhealódh sé / síHe would not distinguish | An idirdhealódh sé / sí?Would he distinguish? |
| sinn (we) | D'idirdhealóimisWe would distinguish | Ní idirdhealóimisWe would not distinguish | An idirdhealóimis?Would we distinguish? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'idirdhealódh sibhYou would distinguish | Ní idirdhealódh sibhYou would not distinguish | An idirdhealódh sibh?Would you distinguish? |
| siad (they) | D'idirdhealóidísThey would distinguish | Ní idirdhealóidísThey would not distinguish | An idirdhealóidís?Would they distinguish? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | D'idirdhealófaí | Ní idirdhealófaí | An idirdhealófaí? |
“Idirdhealaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
D'idirdhealaigh an múinteoir idir an dá fhocal.
The teacher distinguished between the two words.
Idirdhealaíonn an páiste idir dathanna go héasca.
The child distinguishes between colours easily.
Idirdhealóidh an tuarascáil idir na cineálacha éagsúla.
The report will distinguish between the different types.
D'idirdhealódh saineolaí idir an bunleagan agus an chóip.
An expert would distinguish between the original and the copy.
Níor idirdhealaigh an dlí idir fir agus mná.
The law did not discriminate between men and women.
An idirdhealaíonn tú idir an dá fhuaim sin?
Do you distinguish between those two sounds?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To distinguish in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to distinguish?
The Irish for to distinguish is idirdhealaigh (pronounced “ID-ir-yal-ee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is idirdhealú.
What is the verbal noun of idirdhealaigh?
The verbal noun of idirdhealaigh is idirdhealú, used after ag for the continuous: ag idirdhealú (distinguishing). The verbal adjective is idirdhealaithe.
How do you say idirdhealaigh in the past and the future?
Past: D'idirdhealaigh mé; negative Níor idirdhealaigh mé; question Ar idirdhealaigh mé?. Future: Idirdhealóidh mé; negative Ní idirdhealóidh mé; question An idirdhealóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of idirdhealaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is D'idirdhealóinn (I would distinguish); negative Ní idirdhealóinn; question An idirdhealóinn?.
Does idirdhealaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Idirdhealaigh can mean to distinguish or to discriminate, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Which preposition follows 'idirdhealaigh'?
Use 'idir' to distinguish between things, as in 'idirdhealaigh idir A agus B', and 'in aghaidh' for discriminating against someone.
