HeyRuaWhat does “i” mean?
- 1in
- Use 'i' to say that something is inside a place, a thing or a period of time.Also: inside, into, within.
- 2in (a state or role)
- With a possessive word, 'i' shows what someone is or what state they are in, as in 'Tá mé i mo mhúinteoir' (I am a teacher).Also: as, being, in a state of.
- 3there (ann)
- The form 'ann' also means 'there' or 'in existence', as in 'Tá Seán ann' (Seán is there).Also: there, present, exists, there is.
Pronounced “ih” /ɪ/.
“I” with pronouns
In Irish you never say “i mé”. The preposition and the pronoun fuse into one word. Learn these 7 forms and you can use i with anyone. Click a form for its own page.
| Pronoun | Irish | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (me) | ionam | in me | Níl ionam ach duine amháin.I am only one person. |
| tú (you) | ionat | in you | Is cara maith atá ionat.You are a good friend. |
| sé (him / it) | ann | in him / it | Seo mo mhála; tá leabhar ann.Here is my bag; there is a book in it. |
| sí (her / it) | inti | in her / it | Seo an chistin; tá bord mór inti.Here is the kitchen; there is a big table in it. |
| sinn (us) | ionainn | in us | Níl ionainn ach páistí fós.We are only children still. |
| sibh (you (plural)) | ionaibh | in you (plural) | Is daltaí maithe atá ionaibh.You are good pupils. |
| siad (them) | iontu | in them | Seo na cupáin; tá tae iontu.Here are the cups; there is tea in them. |
“I” before a noun
I eclipses the next word (urú): i dteach. Before a vowel it becomes in: in Éirinn.
Becomes in before a vowel: in Éirinn. Sa lenites the next word; san is used before a vowel or fh.
Everyday phrases with “i”
The other prepositions
Every simple preposition has its own set of pronoun forms.
“I” in Irish: frequently asked questions
What does i mean in Irish?
i means in. With a pronoun it becomes one word: ionam (in me), ionat (in you), ann (in him / it).
What is the Irish for in me?
ionam. The preposition i and the pronoun mé fuse into one word; this is a prepositional pronoun (forainm réamhfhoclach).
Does i change the next word?
I eclipses the next word (urú): i dteach. Before a vowel it becomes in: in Éirinn. Becomes in before a vowel: in Éirinn. Sa lenites the next word; san is used before a vowel or fh.
How do I say where I live using 'i'?
Say 'Tá mé i mo chónaí i...' and add the place, for example 'Tá mé i mo chónaí i mBaile Átha Cliath' (I live in Dublin). Remember that 'i' causes eclipsis, and becomes 'in' before a vowel: 'in Éirinn'.
Why does 'ann' sometimes just mean 'there'?
'Ann' is 'i' plus 'him' or 'it', but it is also used to say something is present or exists. 'Tá Seán ann' means 'Seán is there', and 'Tá bainne ann' means 'There is milk'.
