HeyRuaHow to say “to attack” in Irish
- Irish:
- ionsaigh
- English:
- to attack, advance on, set about
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- ionsaí (ag ionsaí, attacking)
- Verbal adjective:
- ionsaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “UN-see” /ˈɪnˠsˠiː/
What does “ionsaigh” mean?
“Ionsaigh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to attack
- To make a violent or hostile attack on a person, place or thing.Also: assault, assail, charge.
2 other meanings: advance on or set about
- 2to advance on
- To move towards or approach someone or something, especially in a threatening way.Also: approach, advance upon.
- 3to set about
- To begin or attempt a task.Also: attempt, tackle.
“Ionsaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'ionsaigh méI attacked | Níor ionsaigh méI did not attack | Ar ionsaigh mé?Did I attack? |
| tú (you) | D'ionsaigh túYou attacked | Níor ionsaigh túYou did not attack | Ar ionsaigh tú?Did you attack? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'ionsaigh sé / síHe attacked | Níor ionsaigh sé / síHe did not attack | Ar ionsaigh sé / sí?Did he attack? |
| sinn (we) | D'ionsaíomarWe attacked | Níor ionsaíomarWe did not attack | Ar ionsaíomar?Did we attack? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'ionsaigh sibhYou attacked | Níor ionsaigh sibhYou did not attack | Ar ionsaigh sibh?Did you attack? |
| siad (they) | D'ionsaigh siadThey attacked | Níor ionsaigh siadThey did not attack | Ar ionsaigh siad?Did they attack? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Ionsaíodh | Níor ionsaíodh | Ar ionsaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | IonsaímI attack | Ní ionsaímI do not attack | An ionsaím?Do I attack? |
| tú (you) | Ionsaíonn túYou attack | Ní ionsaíonn túYou do not attack | An ionsaíonn tú?Do you attack? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ionsaíonn sé / síHe attacks | Ní ionsaíonn sé / síHe does not attack | An ionsaíonn sé / sí?Does he attack? |
| sinn (we) | IonsaímidWe attack | Ní ionsaímidWe do not attack | An ionsaímid?Do we attack? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ionsaíonn sibhYou attack | Ní ionsaíonn sibhYou do not attack | An ionsaíonn sibh?Do you attack? |
| siad (they) | Ionsaíonn siadThey attack | Ní ionsaíonn siadThey do not attack | An ionsaíonn siad?Do they attack? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Ionsaítear | Ní ionsaítear | An ionsaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Ionsóidh méI will attack | Ní ionsóidh méI will not attack | An ionsóidh mé?Will I attack? |
| tú (you) | Ionsóidh túYou will attack | Ní ionsóidh túYou will not attack | An ionsóidh tú?Will you attack? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ionsóidh sé / síHe will attack | Ní ionsóidh sé / síHe will not attack | An ionsóidh sé / sí?Will he attack? |
| sinn (we) | IonsóimidWe will attack | Ní ionsóimidWe will not attack | An ionsóimid?Will we attack? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ionsóidh sibhYou will attack | Ní ionsóidh sibhYou will not attack | An ionsóidh sibh?Will you attack? |
| siad (they) | Ionsóidh siadThey will attack | Ní ionsóidh siadThey will not attack | An ionsóidh siad?Will they attack? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Ionsófar | Ní ionsófar | An ionsófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'ionsóinnI would attack | Ní ionsóinnI would not attack | An ionsóinn?Would I attack? |
| tú (you) | D'ionsófáYou would attack | Ní ionsófáYou would not attack | An ionsófá?Would you attack? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'ionsódh sé / síHe would attack | Ní ionsódh sé / síHe would not attack | An ionsódh sé / sí?Would he attack? |
| sinn (we) | D'ionsóimisWe would attack | Ní ionsóimisWe would not attack | An ionsóimis?Would we attack? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'ionsódh sibhYou would attack | Ní ionsódh sibhYou would not attack | An ionsódh sibh?Would you attack? |
| siad (they) | D'ionsóidísThey would attack | Ní ionsóidísThey would not attack | An ionsóidís?Would they attack? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | D'ionsófaí | Ní ionsófaí | An ionsófaí? |
“Ionsaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
D'ionsaigh an madra an fear poist inné.
The dog attacked the postman yesterday.
Ionsaíonn an cat na luchóga sa ghairdín.
The cat attacks the mice in the garden.
Ionsóidh an t-arm an baile ar maidin.
The army will attack the town in the morning.
D'ionsódh sé thú dá bhfaigheadh sé an deis.
He would attack you if he got the chance.
Níor ionsaigh an madra riamh aon duine.
The dog never attacked anyone.
Ar ionsaíodh é ar a bhealach abhaile?
Was he attacked on his way home?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To attack in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to attack?
The Irish for to attack is ionsaigh (pronounced “UN-see”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is ionsaí.
What is the verbal noun of ionsaigh?
The verbal noun of ionsaigh is ionsaí, used after ag for the continuous: ag ionsaí (attacking). The verbal adjective is ionsaithe.
How do you say ionsaigh in the past and the future?
Past: D'ionsaigh mé; negative Níor ionsaigh mé; question Ar ionsaigh mé?. Future: Ionsóidh mé; negative Ní ionsóidh mé; question An ionsóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of ionsaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is D'ionsóinn (I would attack); negative Ní ionsóinn; question An ionsóinn?.
Does ionsaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Ionsaigh can mean to attack, to advance on or to set about, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the noun for 'an attack'?
The verbal noun 'ionsaí' also means 'an attack', as in 'ionsaí fíochmhar' (a fierce attack).
