HeyRuaHow to say “to leave” in Irish
- Irish:
- imigh
- English:
- to leave, go, pass, happen
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- imeacht (ag imeacht, leaving)
- Verbal adjective:
- imithe
- Pronunciation:
- “IM-ee” /ˈɪmʲiː/
What does “imigh” mean?
“Imigh” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to leave
- To go away from a place or person.Also: go away, depart, go off.
3 other meanings: go or pass or happen
- 2to go
- To go or proceed somewhere, often away from the speaker.Also: go on, proceed.
- 3to pass
- Of time, to go by.Also: elapse, go by.
- 4to happen
- With 'ar', to happen to someone or become of something.Also: become of, befall.
Other Irish verbs for to leave: fág (leave)
“Imigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'imigh méI left | Níor imigh méI did not leave | Ar imigh mé?Did I leave? |
| tú (you) | D'imigh túYou left | Níor imigh túYou did not leave | Ar imigh tú?Did you leave? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'imigh sé / síHe left | Níor imigh sé / síHe did not leave | Ar imigh sé / sí?Did he leave? |
| sinn (we) | D'imíomarWe left | Níor imíomarWe did not leave | Ar imíomar?Did we leave? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'imigh sibhYou left | Níor imigh sibhYou did not leave | Ar imigh sibh?Did you leave? |
| siad (they) | D'imigh siadThey left | Níor imigh siadThey did not leave | Ar imigh siad?Did they leave? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Imíodh | Níor imíodh | Ar imíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ImímI leave | Ní imímI do not leave | An imím?Do I leave? |
| tú (you) | Imíonn túYou leave | Ní imíonn túYou do not leave | An imíonn tú?Do you leave? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Imíonn sé / síHe leaves | Ní imíonn sé / síHe does not leave | An imíonn sé / sí?Does he leave? |
| sinn (we) | ImímidWe leave | Ní imímidWe do not leave | An imímid?Do we leave? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Imíonn sibhYou leave | Ní imíonn sibhYou do not leave | An imíonn sibh?Do you leave? |
| siad (they) | Imíonn siadThey leave | Ní imíonn siadThey do not leave | An imíonn siad?Do they leave? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Imítear | Ní imítear | An imítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Imeoidh méI will leave | Ní imeoidh méI will not leave | An imeoidh mé?Will I leave? |
| tú (you) | Imeoidh túYou will leave | Ní imeoidh túYou will not leave | An imeoidh tú?Will you leave? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Imeoidh sé / síHe will leave | Ní imeoidh sé / síHe will not leave | An imeoidh sé / sí?Will he leave? |
| sinn (we) | ImeoimidWe will leave | Ní imeoimidWe will not leave | An imeoimid?Will we leave? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Imeoidh sibhYou will leave | Ní imeoidh sibhYou will not leave | An imeoidh sibh?Will you leave? |
| siad (they) | Imeoidh siadThey will leave | Ní imeoidh siadThey will not leave | An imeoidh siad?Will they leave? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Imeofar | Ní imeofar | An imeofar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'imeoinnI would leave | Ní imeoinnI would not leave | An imeoinn?Would I leave? |
| tú (you) | D'imeofáYou would leave | Ní imeofáYou would not leave | An imeofá?Would you leave? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'imeodh sé / síHe would leave | Ní imeodh sé / síHe would not leave | An imeodh sé / sí?Would he leave? |
| sinn (we) | D'imeoimisWe would leave | Ní imeoimisWe would not leave | An imeoimis?Would we leave? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'imeodh sibhYou would leave | Ní imeodh sibhYou would not leave | An imeodh sibh?Would you leave? |
| siad (they) | D'imeoidísThey would leave | Ní imeoidísThey would not leave | An imeoidís?Would they leave? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | D'imeofaí | Ní imeofaí | An imeofaí? |
“Imigh” 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 leave in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to leave?
The Irish for to leave is imigh (pronounced “IM-ee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is imeacht.
What is the verbal noun of imigh?
The verbal noun of imigh is imeacht, used after ag for the continuous: ag imeacht (leaving). The verbal adjective is imithe.
How do you say imigh in the past and the future?
Past: D'imigh mé; negative Níor imigh mé; question Ar imigh mé?. Future: Imeoidh mé; negative Ní imeoidh mé; question An imeoidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of imigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is D'imeoinn (I would leave); negative Ní imeoinn; question An imeoinn?.
Does imigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Imigh can mean to leave, to go, to pass or to happen, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'imigh' and 'fág'?
'Imigh' means to leave or go away and takes no object (D'imigh sé), while 'fág' needs an object: D'fhág sé an teach, he left the house.
How do I ask what happened to someone?
Use 'imigh ar': Cad a d'imigh uirthi? means What happened to her?
