HeyRuaHow to say “to feed” in Irish
- Irish:
- biathaigh
- English:
- to feed, supply
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- biathú (ag biathú, feeding)
- Verbal adjective:
- biathaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “BEE-uh-hee” /bʲiəhə/
What does “biathaigh” mean?
“Biathaigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to feed
- To give food to a person or animal.Also: nourish, give food to, fatten.
“Biathaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Bhiathaigh méI fed | Níor bhiathaigh méI did not feed | Ar bhiathaigh mé?Did I feed? |
| tú (you) | Bhiathaigh túYou fed | Níor bhiathaigh túYou did not feed | Ar bhiathaigh tú?Did you feed? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bhiathaigh sé / síHe fed | Níor bhiathaigh sé / síHe did not feed | Ar bhiathaigh sé / sí?Did he feed? |
| sinn (we) | BhiathaíomarWe fed | Níor bhiathaíomarWe did not feed | Ar bhiathaíomar?Did we feed? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bhiathaigh sibhYou fed | Níor bhiathaigh sibhYou did not feed | Ar bhiathaigh sibh?Did you feed? |
| siad (they) | Bhiathaigh siadThey fed | Níor bhiathaigh siadThey did not feed | Ar bhiathaigh siad?Did they feed? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Biathaíodh | Níor biathaíodh | Ar biathaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | BiathaímI feed | Ní bhiathaímI do not feed | An mbiathaím?Do I feed? |
| tú (you) | Biathaíonn túYou feed | Ní bhiathaíonn túYou do not feed | An mbiathaíonn tú?Do you feed? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Biathaíonn sé / síHe feeds | Ní bhiathaíonn sé / síHe does not feed | An mbiathaíonn sé / sí?Does he feed? |
| sinn (we) | BiathaímidWe feed | Ní bhiathaímidWe do not feed | An mbiathaímid?Do we feed? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Biathaíonn sibhYou feed | Ní bhiathaíonn sibhYou do not feed | An mbiathaíonn sibh?Do you feed? |
| siad (they) | Biathaíonn siadThey feed | Ní bhiathaíonn siadThey do not feed | An mbiathaíonn siad?Do they feed? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Biathaítear | Ní bhiathaítear | An mbiathaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Biathóidh méI will feed | Ní bhiathóidh méI will not feed | An mbiathóidh mé?Will I feed? |
| tú (you) | Biathóidh túYou will feed | Ní bhiathóidh túYou will not feed | An mbiathóidh tú?Will you feed? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Biathóidh sé / síHe will feed | Ní bhiathóidh sé / síHe will not feed | An mbiathóidh sé / sí?Will he feed? |
| sinn (we) | BiathóimidWe will feed | Ní bhiathóimidWe will not feed | An mbiathóimid?Will we feed? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Biathóidh sibhYou will feed | Ní bhiathóidh sibhYou will not feed | An mbiathóidh sibh?Will you feed? |
| siad (they) | Biathóidh siadThey will feed | Ní bhiathóidh siadThey will not feed | An mbiathóidh siad?Will they feed? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Biathófar | Ní bhiathófar | An mbiathófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | BhiathóinnI would feed | Ní bhiathóinnI would not feed | An mbiathóinn?Would I feed? |
| tú (you) | BhiathófáYou would feed | Ní bhiathófáYou would not feed | An mbiathófá?Would you feed? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bhiathódh sé / síHe would feed | Ní bhiathódh sé / síHe would not feed | An mbiathódh sé / sí?Would he feed? |
| sinn (we) | BhiathóimisWe would feed | Ní bhiathóimisWe would not feed | An mbiathóimis?Would we feed? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bhiathódh sibhYou would feed | Ní bhiathódh sibhYou would not feed | An mbiathódh sibh?Would you feed? |
| siad (they) | BhiathóidísThey would feed | Ní bhiathóidísThey would not feed | An mbiathóidís?Would they feed? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Bhiathófaí | Ní bhiathófaí | An mbiathófaí? |
“Biathaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To feed in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to feed?
The Irish for to feed is biathaigh (pronounced “BEE-uh-hee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is biathú.
What is the verbal noun of biathaigh?
The verbal noun of biathaigh is biathú, used after ag for the continuous: ag biathú (feeding). The verbal adjective is biathaithe.
How do you say biathaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Bhiathaigh mé; negative Níor bhiathaigh mé; question Ar bhiathaigh mé?. Future: Biathóidh mé; negative Ní bhiathóidh mé; question An mbiathóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of biathaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Bhiathóinn (I would feed); negative Ní bhiathóinn; question An mbiathóinn?.
Does biathaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Biathaigh can mean to feed or to supply, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'biathaigh' and 'beathaigh'?
Both can mean to feed, but 'biathaigh' focuses on giving food, while 'beathaigh' also means to nourish or sustain life. 'Cothaigh' is another common verb for to nourish or maintain.
