HeyRuaHow to say “to sharpen” in Irish
- Irish:
- bioraigh
- English:
- to sharpen, prick up
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- biorú (ag biorú, sharpening)
- Verbal adjective:
- bioraithe
- Pronunciation:
- “BIR-ee” /bʲɪɾˠiː/
What does “bioraigh” mean?
“Bioraigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to sharpen
- To give something a sharp point.Also: point, make pointed.
1 other meaning: prick up
- 2to prick up
- To make the ears stand up and listen closely, as an animal does.Also: perk up, become alert.
Other Irish verbs for to sharpen: géaraigh (sharpen)
“Bioraigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Bhioraigh méI sharpened | Níor bhioraigh méI did not sharpen | Ar bhioraigh mé?Did I sharpen? |
| tú (you) | Bhioraigh túYou sharpened | Níor bhioraigh túYou did not sharpen | Ar bhioraigh tú?Did you sharpen? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bhioraigh sé / síHe sharpened | Níor bhioraigh sé / síHe did not sharpen | Ar bhioraigh sé / sí?Did he sharpen? |
| sinn (we) | BhioraíomarWe sharpened | Níor bhioraíomarWe did not sharpen | Ar bhioraíomar?Did we sharpen? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bhioraigh sibhYou sharpened | Níor bhioraigh sibhYou did not sharpen | Ar bhioraigh sibh?Did you sharpen? |
| siad (they) | Bhioraigh siadThey sharpened | Níor bhioraigh siadThey did not sharpen | Ar bhioraigh siad?Did they sharpen? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Bioraíodh | Níor bioraíodh | Ar bioraíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | BioraímI sharpen | Ní bhioraímI do not sharpen | An mbioraím?Do I sharpen? |
| tú (you) | Bioraíonn túYou sharpen | Ní bhioraíonn túYou do not sharpen | An mbioraíonn tú?Do you sharpen? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bioraíonn sé / síHe sharpens | Ní bhioraíonn sé / síHe does not sharpen | An mbioraíonn sé / sí?Does he sharpen? |
| sinn (we) | BioraímidWe sharpen | Ní bhioraímidWe do not sharpen | An mbioraímid?Do we sharpen? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bioraíonn sibhYou sharpen | Ní bhioraíonn sibhYou do not sharpen | An mbioraíonn sibh?Do you sharpen? |
| siad (they) | Bioraíonn siadThey sharpen | Ní bhioraíonn siadThey do not sharpen | An mbioraíonn siad?Do they sharpen? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Bioraítear | Ní bhioraítear | An mbioraítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Bioróidh méI will sharpen | Ní bhioróidh méI will not sharpen | An mbioróidh mé?Will I sharpen? |
| tú (you) | Bioróidh túYou will sharpen | Ní bhioróidh túYou will not sharpen | An mbioróidh tú?Will you sharpen? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bioróidh sé / síHe will sharpen | Ní bhioróidh sé / síHe will not sharpen | An mbioróidh sé / sí?Will he sharpen? |
| sinn (we) | BioróimidWe will sharpen | Ní bhioróimidWe will not sharpen | An mbioróimid?Will we sharpen? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bioróidh sibhYou will sharpen | Ní bhioróidh sibhYou will not sharpen | An mbioróidh sibh?Will you sharpen? |
| siad (they) | Bioróidh siadThey will sharpen | Ní bhioróidh siadThey will not sharpen | An mbioróidh siad?Will they sharpen? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Biorófar | Ní bhiorófar | An mbiorófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | BhioróinnI would sharpen | Ní bhioróinnI would not sharpen | An mbioróinn?Would I sharpen? |
| tú (you) | BhiorófáYou would sharpen | Ní bhiorófáYou would not sharpen | An mbiorófá?Would you sharpen? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bhioródh sé / síHe would sharpen | Ní bhioródh sé / síHe would not sharpen | An mbioródh sé / sí?Would he sharpen? |
| sinn (we) | BhioróimisWe would sharpen | Ní bhioróimisWe would not sharpen | An mbioróimis?Would we sharpen? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bhioródh sibhYou would sharpen | Ní bhioródh sibhYou would not sharpen | An mbioródh sibh?Would you sharpen? |
| siad (they) | BhioróidísThey would sharpen | Ní bhioróidísThey would not sharpen | An mbioróidís?Would they sharpen? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Bhiorófaí | Ní bhiorófaí | An mbiorófaí? |
“Bioraigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Bhioraigh sé an peann luaidhe le scian.
He sharpened the pencil with a knife.
Bioraíonn an madra a chluasa nuair a chloiseann sé torann.
The dog pricks up its ears when it hears a noise.
Bioróidh mé na cipíní amárach.
I will sharpen the sticks tomorrow.
Bhioródh sí an maide dá mbeadh scian aici.
She would sharpen the stick if she had a knife.
Níor bhioraigh sé an cuaille fós.
He hasn't sharpened the post yet.
Ar bhioraigh tú na pinn luaidhe?
Did you sharpen the pencils?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To sharpen in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to sharpen?
The Irish for to sharpen is bioraigh (pronounced “BIR-ee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is biorú.
What is the verbal noun of bioraigh?
The verbal noun of bioraigh is biorú, used after ag for the continuous: ag biorú (sharpening). The verbal adjective is bioraithe.
How do you say bioraigh in the past and the future?
Past: Bhioraigh mé; negative Níor bhioraigh mé; question Ar bhioraigh mé?. Future: Bioróidh mé; negative Ní bhioróidh mé; question An mbioróidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of bioraigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Bhioróinn (I would sharpen); negative Ní bhioróinn; question An mbioróinn?.
Does bioraigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Bioraigh can mean to sharpen or to prick up, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'bioraigh' and 'géaraigh'?
'Bioraigh' means to put a point on something, like a stick or pencil, while 'géaraigh' is more general, to sharpen an edge or make something keener, as in 'géaraigh an scian'.
