HeyRuaHow to say “to separate” in Irish
- Irish:
- dealaigh
- English:
- to separate, subtract, distinguish, depart
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- dealú (ag dealú, separating)
- Verbal adjective:
- dealaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “DAL-ee” /ˈdʲalˠə/
What does “dealaigh” mean?
“Dealaigh” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to separate
- To part or divide one thing or person from another.Also: part, divide, detach.
3 other meanings: subtract or distinguish or depart
- 2to subtract
- To take one number away from another in arithmetic.Also: take away, deduct.
- 3to distinguish
- To tell things apart or mark the difference between them.Also: differentiate, tell apart.
- 4to depart
- To go away or part company from someone.Also: part from, leave.
Other Irish verbs for to separate: scar (separate)
“Dealaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Dhealaigh méI separated | Níor dhealaigh méI did not separate | Ar dhealaigh mé?Did I separate? |
| tú (you) | Dhealaigh túYou separated | Níor dhealaigh túYou did not separate | Ar dhealaigh tú?Did you separate? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Dhealaigh sé / síHe separated | Níor dhealaigh sé / síHe did not separate | Ar dhealaigh sé / sí?Did he separate? |
| sinn (we) | DhealaíomarWe separated | Níor dhealaíomarWe did not separate | Ar dhealaíomar?Did we separate? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Dhealaigh sibhYou separated | Níor dhealaigh sibhYou did not separate | Ar dhealaigh sibh?Did you separate? |
| siad (they) | Dhealaigh siadThey separated | Níor dhealaigh siadThey did not separate | Ar dhealaigh siad?Did they separate? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Dealaíodh | Níor dealaíodh | Ar dealaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | DealaímI separate | Ní dhealaímI do not separate | An ndealaím?Do I separate? |
| tú (you) | Dealaíonn túYou separate | Ní dhealaíonn túYou do not separate | An ndealaíonn tú?Do you separate? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Dealaíonn sé / síHe separates | Ní dhealaíonn sé / síHe does not separate | An ndealaíonn sé / sí?Does he separate? |
| sinn (we) | DealaímidWe separate | Ní dhealaímidWe do not separate | An ndealaímid?Do we separate? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Dealaíonn sibhYou separate | Ní dhealaíonn sibhYou do not separate | An ndealaíonn sibh?Do you separate? |
| siad (they) | Dealaíonn siadThey separate | Ní dhealaíonn siadThey do not separate | An ndealaíonn siad?Do they separate? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Dealaítear | Ní dhealaítear | An ndealaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Dealóidh méI will separate | Ní dhealóidh méI will not separate | An ndealóidh mé?Will I separate? |
| tú (you) | Dealóidh túYou will separate | Ní dhealóidh túYou will not separate | An ndealóidh tú?Will you separate? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Dealóidh sé / síHe will separate | Ní dhealóidh sé / síHe will not separate | An ndealóidh sé / sí?Will he separate? |
| sinn (we) | DealóimidWe will separate | Ní dhealóimidWe will not separate | An ndealóimid?Will we separate? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Dealóidh sibhYou will separate | Ní dhealóidh sibhYou will not separate | An ndealóidh sibh?Will you separate? |
| siad (they) | Dealóidh siadThey will separate | Ní dhealóidh siadThey will not separate | An ndealóidh siad?Will they separate? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Dealófar | Ní dhealófar | An ndealófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | DhealóinnI would separate | Ní dhealóinnI would not separate | An ndealóinn?Would I separate? |
| tú (you) | DhealófáYou would separate | Ní dhealófáYou would not separate | An ndealófá?Would you separate? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Dhealódh sé / síHe would separate | Ní dhealódh sé / síHe would not separate | An ndealódh sé / sí?Would he separate? |
| sinn (we) | DhealóimisWe would separate | Ní dhealóimisWe would not separate | An ndealóimis?Would we separate? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Dhealódh sibhYou would separate | Ní dhealódh sibhYou would not separate | An ndealódh sibh?Would you separate? |
| siad (they) | DhealóidísThey would separate | Ní dhealóidísThey would not separate | An ndealóidís?Would they separate? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Dhealófaí | Ní dhealófaí | An ndealófaí? |
“Dealaigh” 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 separate in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to separate?
The Irish for to separate is dealaigh (pronounced “DAL-ee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is dealú.
What is the verbal noun of dealaigh?
The verbal noun of dealaigh is dealú, used after ag for the continuous: ag dealú (separating). The verbal adjective is dealaithe.
How do you say dealaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Dhealaigh mé; negative Níor dhealaigh mé; question Ar dhealaigh mé?. Future: Dealóidh mé; negative Ní dhealóidh mé; question An ndealóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of dealaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Dhealóinn (I would separate); negative Ní dhealóinn; question An ndealóinn?.
Does dealaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Dealaigh can mean to separate, to subtract, to distinguish or to depart, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What preposition does 'dealaigh' take?
It usually takes 'ó': dealaigh a trí ó a seacht, subtract three from seven. 'Dealaigh le' means to part with something.
How is 'dealaigh' different from 'scar'?
Both mean separate, but 'scar' is more common for people parting or spreading things out, while 'dealaigh' is also the standard word for subtract in maths.
