HeyRuaWhat does “ag” mean?
- 1at
- Shows where someone or something is, like at a door or at home.Also: by, beside.
- 2have (possession)
- Used with 'tá' to say that someone has something: tá leabhar agam means I have a book.Also: have, has, own, possess.
- 3-ing (doing an action)
- Used before a verbal noun to show an action happening now, like tá mé ag ithe (I am eating).Also: doing, -ing, in the middle of.
Pronounced “eg” /ɛɟ/.
“Ag” with pronouns
In Irish you never say “ag mé”. The preposition and the pronoun fuse into one word. Learn these 7 forms and you can use ag with anyone. Click a form for its own page.
| Pronoun | Irish | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (me) | agam | at me | Tá leabhar nua agam.I have a new book. |
| tú (you) | agat | at you | An bhfuil peann agat?Do you have a pen? |
| sé (him / it) | aige | at him / it | Tá madra mór aige.He has a big dog. |
| sí (her / it) | aici | at her / it | Tá carr dearg aici.She has a red car. |
| sinn (us) | againn | at us | Tá teach beag againn sa bhaile.We have a small house at home. |
| sibh (you (plural)) | agaibh | at you (plural) | An bhfuil airgead agaibh?Do you all have money? |
| siad (them) | acu | at them | Tá beirt pháistí acu.They have two children. |
“Ag” before a noun
Ag does not change the next word: ag doras.
Also used for having: tá teach agam (I have a house).
Everyday phrases with “ag”
The other prepositions
Every simple preposition has its own set of pronoun forms.
“Ag” in Irish: frequently asked questions
What does ag mean in Irish?
ag means at. With a pronoun it becomes one word: agam (at me), agat (at you), aige (at him / it).
What is the Irish for at me?
agam. The preposition ag and the pronoun mé fuse into one word; this is a prepositional pronoun (forainm réamhfhoclach).
Does ag change the next word?
Ag does not change the next word: ag doras. Also used for having: tá teach agam (I have a house).
How do I say 'I have' in Irish?
Irish has no verb 'to have', so you say tá plus the thing plus agam, as in Tá carr agam (I have a car).
How do I say 'thank you' in Irish?
Say Go raibh maith agat to one person and Go raibh maith agaibh to more than one person.
