HeyRuaHow to say “to be” in Irish
- Irish:
- bí
- English:
- to be, have, know
- Word type:
- verb, irregular
- Verbal noun:
- bheith (ag bheith, being)
- Pronunciation:
- “bee” /bʲiː/
What does “bí” mean?
“Bí” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to be
- To exist or to be in a certain state, place or condition.Also: exist, is, are, was.
2 other meanings: have or know
- 2to have
- Used with 'ag' to express possession: something is at someone.Also: own, possess.
- 3to know
- Used with 'ar eolas ag' or 'a fhios ag' to express knowing something.Also: be aware.
“Bí” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Irregular verb. Bí is one of the eleven irregular verbs in Irish, so its forms do not follow the regular pattern. After ní, an and go, the past uses the stem raibh: ní raibh mé and an raibh mé?
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Bhí méI was | Ní raibh méI was not | An raibh mé?Was I? |
| tú (you) | Bhí túYou were | Ní raibh túYou were not | An raibh tú?Were you? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bhí sé / síHe was | Ní raibh sé / síHe was not | An raibh sé / sí?Was he? |
| sinn (we) | BhíomarWe were | Ní rabhamarWe were not | An rabhamar?Were we? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bhí sibhYou were | Ní raibh sibhYou were not | An raibh sibh?Were you? |
| siad (they) | Bhí siadThey were | Ní raibh siadThey were not | An raibh siad?Were they? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Bhíothas | Ní rabhthas | An rabhthas? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Tá méI am | Níl méI am not | An bhfuil mé?Am I? |
| tú (you) | Tá túYou are | Níl túYou are not | An bhfuil tú?Are you? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Tá sé / síHe is | Níl sé / síHe is not | An bhfuil sé / sí?Is he? |
| sinn (we) | TáimidWe are | NílimidWe are not | An bhfuilimid?Are we? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Tá sibhYou are | Níl sibhYou are not | An bhfuil sibh?Are you? |
| siad (they) | Tá siadThey are | Níl siadThey are not | An bhfuil siad?Are they? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Táthar | Níltear | An bhfuiltear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Beidh méI will be | Ní bheidh méI will not be | An mbeidh mé?Will I be? |
| tú (you) | Beidh túYou will be | Ní bheidh túYou will not be | An mbeidh tú?Will you be? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Beidh sé / síHe will be | Ní bheidh sé / síHe will not be | An mbeidh sé / sí?Will he be? |
| sinn (we) | BeimidWe will be | Ní bheimidWe will not be | An mbeimid?Will we be? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Beidh sibhYou will be | Ní bheidh sibhYou will not be | An mbeidh sibh?Will you be? |
| siad (they) | Beidh siadThey will be | Ní bheidh siadThey will not be | An mbeidh siad?Will they be? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Beifear | Ní bheifear | An mbeifear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | BheinnI would be | Ní bheinnI would not be | An mbeinn?Would I be? |
| tú (you) | BheifeáYou would be | Ní bheifeáYou would not be | An mbeifeá?Would you be? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bheadh sé / síHe would be | Ní bheadh sé / síHe would not be | An mbeadh sé / sí?Would he be? |
| sinn (we) | BheimisWe would be | Ní bheimisWe would not be | An mbeimis?Would we be? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bheadh sibhYou would be | Ní bheadh sibhYou would not be | An mbeadh sibh?Would you be? |
| siad (they) | BheidísThey would be | Ní bheidísThey would not be | An mbeidís?Would they be? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Bheifí | Ní bheifí | An mbeifí? |
“Bí” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Phrases with bí: Go raibh maith agat (thank you), Go raibh míle maith agat (thank you very much), Go raibh míle maith agat (thanks a million), Tá fáilte romhat (you're welcome), Tá brón orm (sorry)
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
Phrases with “bí”
To be in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to be?
The Irish for to be is bí (pronounced “bee”). It is an irregular verb; the verbal noun is bheith.
What is the verbal noun of bí?
The verbal noun of bí is bheith, used after ag for the continuous: ag bheith (being).
How do you say bí in the past and the future?
Past: Bhí mé; negative Ní raibh mé; question An raibh mé?. Future: Beidh mé; negative Ní bheidh mé; question An mbeidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of bí?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Bheinn (I would be); negative Ní bheinn; question An mbeinn?.
Is bí an irregular verb?
Bí is one of the eleven irregular verbs in Irish, so its forms do not follow the regular pattern. After ní, an and go, the past uses the stem raibh: ní raibh mé and an raibh mé? The tables above give every form.
Does bí have more than one meaning?
Yes. Bí can mean to be, to have or to know, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'bí' and the copula 'is'?
'Bí' (tá) describes states, locations and conditions, as in 'Tá sé fuar', while the copula 'is' classifies or identifies, as in 'Is múinteoir í'.
How do I say 'I have' with 'bí'?
Use 'tá' with 'ag': 'Tá carr agam' means 'I have a car'.
