HeyRuaHow to say “to live” in Irish
- Irish:
- cónaigh
- English:
- to live, rest
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- cónaí (ag cónaí, living)
- Verbal adjective:
- cónaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “KOH-nee” /ˈkoːnˠiː/
What does “cónaigh” mean?
“Cónaigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to live
- To have your home in a particular place.Also: reside, dwell, abide.
1 other meaning: rest
- 2to rest
- To stop or settle in one place; to stay still.Also: stay, settle, stop.
Other Irish verbs for to live: mair (live)
“Cónaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Chónaigh méI lived | Níor chónaigh méI did not live | Ar chónaigh mé?Did I live? |
| tú (you) | Chónaigh túYou lived | Níor chónaigh túYou did not live | Ar chónaigh tú?Did you live? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chónaigh sé / síHe lived | Níor chónaigh sé / síHe did not live | Ar chónaigh sé / sí?Did he live? |
| sinn (we) | ChónaíomarWe lived | Níor chónaíomarWe did not live | Ar chónaíomar?Did we live? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chónaigh sibhYou lived | Níor chónaigh sibhYou did not live | Ar chónaigh sibh?Did you live? |
| siad (they) | Chónaigh siadThey lived | Níor chónaigh siadThey did not live | Ar chónaigh siad?Did they live? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cónaíodh | Níor cónaíodh | Ar cónaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CónaímI live | Ní chónaímI do not live | An gcónaím?Do I live? |
| tú (you) | Cónaíonn túYou live | Ní chónaíonn túYou do not live | An gcónaíonn tú?Do you live? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cónaíonn sé / síHe lives | Ní chónaíonn sé / síHe does not live | An gcónaíonn sé / sí?Does he live? |
| sinn (we) | CónaímidWe live | Ní chónaímidWe do not live | An gcónaímid?Do we live? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cónaíonn sibhYou live | Ní chónaíonn sibhYou do not live | An gcónaíonn sibh?Do you live? |
| siad (they) | Cónaíonn siadThey live | Ní chónaíonn siadThey do not live | An gcónaíonn siad?Do they live? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cónaítear | Ní chónaítear | An gcónaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Cónóidh méI will live | Ní chónóidh méI will not live | An gcónóidh mé?Will I live? |
| tú (you) | Cónóidh túYou will live | Ní chónóidh túYou will not live | An gcónóidh tú?Will you live? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cónóidh sé / síHe will live | Ní chónóidh sé / síHe will not live | An gcónóidh sé / sí?Will he live? |
| sinn (we) | CónóimidWe will live | Ní chónóimidWe will not live | An gcónóimid?Will we live? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cónóidh sibhYou will live | Ní chónóidh sibhYou will not live | An gcónóidh sibh?Will you live? |
| siad (they) | Cónóidh siadThey will live | Ní chónóidh siadThey will not live | An gcónóidh siad?Will they live? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cónófar | Ní chónófar | An gcónófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChónóinnI would live | Ní chónóinnI would not live | An gcónóinn?Would I live? |
| tú (you) | ChónófáYou would live | Ní chónófáYou would not live | An gcónófá?Would you live? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chónódh sé / síHe would live | Ní chónódh sé / síHe would not live | An gcónódh sé / sí?Would he live? |
| sinn (we) | ChónóimisWe would live | Ní chónóimisWe would not live | An gcónóimis?Would we live? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chónódh sibhYou would live | Ní chónódh sibhYou would not live | An gcónódh sibh?Would you live? |
| siad (they) | ChónóidísThey would live | Ní chónóidísThey would not live | An gcónóidís?Would they live? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Chónófaí | Ní chónófaí | An gcónófaí? |
“Cónaigh” 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 live in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to live?
The Irish for to live is cónaigh (pronounced “KOH-nee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is cónaí.
What is the verbal noun of cónaigh?
The verbal noun of cónaigh is cónaí, used after ag for the continuous: ag cónaí (living). The verbal adjective is cónaithe.
How do you say cónaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Chónaigh mé; negative Níor chónaigh mé; question Ar chónaigh mé?. Future: Cónóidh mé; negative Ní chónóidh mé; question An gcónóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of cónaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Chónóinn (I would live); negative Ní chónóinn; question An gcónóinn?.
Does cónaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cónaigh can mean to live or to rest, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do Irish speakers usually say where they live?
The most common way is 'Tá cónaí orm i nGaillimh' (I live in Galway), using the verbal noun cónaí with ar, though 'Cónaím i nGaillimh' is also correct.
What is the difference between cónaigh and mair?
Cónaigh means to live somewhere, to reside, while mair means to be alive or to last, as in 'Mhair sé céad bliain' (he lived a hundred years).
