HeyRuaHow to say “to look” in Irish
- Irish:
- breathnaigh
- English:
- to look, examine, appear
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- breathnú (ag breathnú, looking)
- Verbal adjective:
- breathnaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “BRAN-ee” /bʲɾʲahnˠə/
What does “breathnaigh” mean?
“Breathnaigh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to look
- To direct your eyes at something, usually with 'ar'.Also: look at, watch, view.
“Breathnaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Bhreathnaigh méI looked | Níor bhreathnaigh méI did not look | Ar bhreathnaigh mé?Did I look? |
| tú (you) | Bhreathnaigh túYou looked | Níor bhreathnaigh túYou did not look | Ar bhreathnaigh tú?Did you look? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bhreathnaigh sé / síHe looked | Níor bhreathnaigh sé / síHe did not look | Ar bhreathnaigh sé / sí?Did he look? |
| sinn (we) | BhreathnaíomarWe looked | Níor bhreathnaíomarWe did not look | Ar bhreathnaíomar?Did we look? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bhreathnaigh sibhYou looked | Níor bhreathnaigh sibhYou did not look | Ar bhreathnaigh sibh?Did you look? |
| siad (they) | Bhreathnaigh siadThey looked | Níor bhreathnaigh siadThey did not look | Ar bhreathnaigh siad?Did they look? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Breathnaíodh | Níor breathnaíodh | Ar breathnaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | BreathnaímI look | Ní bhreathnaímI do not look | An mbreathnaím?Do I look? |
| tú (you) | Breathnaíonn túYou look | Ní bhreathnaíonn túYou do not look | An mbreathnaíonn tú?Do you look? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Breathnaíonn sé / síHe looks | Ní bhreathnaíonn sé / síHe does not look | An mbreathnaíonn sé / sí?Does he look? |
| sinn (we) | BreathnaímidWe look | Ní bhreathnaímidWe do not look | An mbreathnaímid?Do we look? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Breathnaíonn sibhYou look | Ní bhreathnaíonn sibhYou do not look | An mbreathnaíonn sibh?Do you look? |
| siad (they) | Breathnaíonn siadThey look | Ní bhreathnaíonn siadThey do not look | An mbreathnaíonn siad?Do they look? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Breathnaítear | Ní bhreathnaítear | An mbreathnaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Breathnóidh méI will look | Ní bhreathnóidh méI will not look | An mbreathnóidh mé?Will I look? |
| tú (you) | Breathnóidh túYou will look | Ní bhreathnóidh túYou will not look | An mbreathnóidh tú?Will you look? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Breathnóidh sé / síHe will look | Ní bhreathnóidh sé / síHe will not look | An mbreathnóidh sé / sí?Will he look? |
| sinn (we) | BreathnóimidWe will look | Ní bhreathnóimidWe will not look | An mbreathnóimid?Will we look? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Breathnóidh sibhYou will look | Ní bhreathnóidh sibhYou will not look | An mbreathnóidh sibh?Will you look? |
| siad (they) | Breathnóidh siadThey will look | Ní bhreathnóidh siadThey will not look | An mbreathnóidh siad?Will they look? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Breathnófar | Ní bhreathnófar | An mbreathnófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | BhreathnóinnI would look | Ní bhreathnóinnI would not look | An mbreathnóinn?Would I look? |
| tú (you) | BhreathnófáYou would look | Ní bhreathnófáYou would not look | An mbreathnófá?Would you look? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bhreathnódh sé / síHe would look | Ní bhreathnódh sé / síHe would not look | An mbreathnódh sé / sí?Would he look? |
| sinn (we) | BhreathnóimisWe would look | Ní bhreathnóimisWe would not look | An mbreathnóimis?Would we look? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bhreathnódh sibhYou would look | Ní bhreathnódh sibhYou would not look | An mbreathnódh sibh?Would you look? |
| siad (they) | BhreathnóidísThey would look | Ní bhreathnóidísThey would not look | An mbreathnóidís?Would they look? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Bhreathnófaí | Ní bhreathnófaí | An mbreathnófaí? |
“Breathnaigh” 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 look in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to look?
The Irish for to look is breathnaigh (pronounced “BRAN-ee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is breathnú.
What is the verbal noun of breathnaigh?
The verbal noun of breathnaigh is breathnú, used after ag for the continuous: ag breathnú (looking). The verbal adjective is breathnaithe.
How do you say breathnaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Bhreathnaigh mé; negative Níor bhreathnaigh mé; question Ar bhreathnaigh mé?. Future: Breathnóidh mé; negative Ní bhreathnóidh mé; question An mbreathnóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of breathnaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Bhreathnóinn (I would look); negative Ní bhreathnóinn; question An mbreathnóinn?.
Does breathnaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Breathnaigh can mean to look, to examine or to appear, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'breathnaigh' and 'féach'?
Both mean 'look'; 'breathnaigh' is especially common in Connacht Irish, while 'féach' is more widespread. Both take 'ar': breathnaigh ar an teilifís, féach ar an teilifís.
How do I say something looks nice?
Use the verb without 'ar': Breathnaíonn sé go deas, 'It looks nice'.
