HeyRuaHow to say “to ask for” in Irish
- Irish:
- iarr
- English:
- to ask for, want, try, invite
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- iarraidh (ag iarraidh, asking for)
- Verbal adjective:
- iarrtha
- Pronunciation:
- “eer” /iəɾˠ/
What does “iarr” mean?
“Iarr” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to ask for
- To ask someone for something, using 'ar' before the person asked.Also: request, ask, demand, seek.
3 other meanings: want or try or invite
- 2to want
- In the progressive 'ag iarraidh', to want something or want to do something.Also: wish, desire.
- 3to try
- In the progressive 'ag iarraidh', to try or attempt to do something.Also: attempt.
- 4to invite
- To ask someone to come to an event or place.Also: ask out.
“Iarr” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'iarr méI asked for | Níor iarr méI did not ask for | Ar iarr mé?Did I ask for? |
| tú (you) | D'iarr túYou asked for | Níor iarr túYou did not ask for | Ar iarr tú?Did you ask for? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'iarr sé / síHe asked for | Níor iarr sé / síHe did not ask for | Ar iarr sé / sí?Did he ask for? |
| sinn (we) | D'iarramarWe asked for | Níor iarramarWe did not ask for | Ar iarramar?Did we ask for? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'iarr sibhYou asked for | Níor iarr sibhYou did not ask for | Ar iarr sibh?Did you ask for? |
| siad (they) | D'iarr siadThey asked for | Níor iarr siadThey did not ask for | Ar iarr siad?Did they ask for? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Iarradh | Níor iarradh | Ar iarradh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | IarraimI ask for | Ní iarraimI do not ask for | An iarraim?Do I ask for? |
| tú (you) | Iarrann túYou ask for | Ní iarrann túYou do not ask for | An iarrann tú?Do you ask for? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Iarrann sé / síHe asks for | Ní iarrann sé / síHe does not ask for | An iarrann sé / sí?Does he ask for? |
| sinn (we) | IarraimidWe ask for | Ní iarraimidWe do not ask for | An iarraimid?Do we ask for? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Iarrann sibhYou ask for | Ní iarrann sibhYou do not ask for | An iarrann sibh?Do you ask for? |
| siad (they) | Iarrann siadThey ask for | Ní iarrann siadThey do not ask for | An iarrann siad?Do they ask for? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Iarrtar | Ní iarrtar | An iarrtar? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Iarrfaidh méI will ask for | Ní iarrfaidh méI will not ask for | An iarrfaidh mé?Will I ask for? |
| tú (you) | Iarrfaidh túYou will ask for | Ní iarrfaidh túYou will not ask for | An iarrfaidh tú?Will you ask for? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Iarrfaidh sé / síHe will ask for | Ní iarrfaidh sé / síHe will not ask for | An iarrfaidh sé / sí?Will he ask for? |
| sinn (we) | IarrfaimidWe will ask for | Ní iarrfaimidWe will not ask for | An iarrfaimid?Will we ask for? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Iarrfaidh sibhYou will ask for | Ní iarrfaidh sibhYou will not ask for | An iarrfaidh sibh?Will you ask for? |
| siad (they) | Iarrfaidh siadThey will ask for | Ní iarrfaidh siadThey will not ask for | An iarrfaidh siad?Will they ask for? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Iarrfar | Ní iarrfar | An iarrfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'iarrfainnI would ask for | Ní iarrfainnI would not ask for | An iarrfainn?Would I ask for? |
| tú (you) | D'iarrfáYou would ask for | Ní iarrfáYou would not ask for | An iarrfá?Would you ask for? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'iarrfadh sé / síHe would ask for | Ní iarrfadh sé / síHe would not ask for | An iarrfadh sé / sí?Would he ask for? |
| sinn (we) | D'iarrfaimisWe would ask for | Ní iarrfaimisWe would not ask for | An iarrfaimis?Would we ask for? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'iarrfadh sibhYou would ask for | Ní iarrfadh sibhYou would not ask for | An iarrfadh sibh?Would you ask for? |
| siad (they) | D'iarrfaidísThey would ask for | Ní iarrfaidísThey would not ask for | An iarrfaidís?Would they ask for? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | D'iarrfaí | Ní iarrfaí | An iarrfaí? |
“Iarr” 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 ask for in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to ask for?
The Irish for to ask for is iarr (pronounced “eer”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is iarraidh.
What is the verbal noun of iarr?
The verbal noun of iarr is iarraidh, used after ag for the continuous: ag iarraidh (asking for). The verbal adjective is iarrtha.
How do you say iarr in the past and the future?
Past: D'iarr mé; negative Níor iarr mé; question Ar iarr mé?. Future: Iarrfaidh mé; negative Ní iarrfaidh mé; question An iarrfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of iarr?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is D'iarrfainn (I would ask for); negative Ní iarrfainn; question An iarrfainn?.
Does iarr have more than one meaning?
Yes. Iarr can mean to ask for, to want, to try or to invite, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'iarr' and 'fiafraigh'?
'Iarr' means to ask for or request something (d'iarr mé airgead air), while 'fiafraigh' means to ask a question (d'fhiafraigh mé de cá raibh sé).
Which preposition does 'iarr' take?
The person asked takes 'ar': d'iarr mé ar Sheán é, I asked Seán for it. To ask someone to do something: d'iarr mé air fanacht.
