HeyRuaHow to say “to break” in Irish
- Irish:
- bris
- English:
- to break, dismiss, break a rule, defeat
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- briseadh (ag briseadh, breaking)
- Verbal adjective:
- briste
- Pronunciation:
- “brish” /bʲɾʲɪʃ/
What does “bris” mean?
“Bris” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to break
- To make something come apart in pieces, or to come apart.Also: smash, shatter, fracture, burst.
3 other meanings: dismiss or break a rule or defeat
- 2to dismiss
- To remove someone from their job.Also: sack, fire, let go.
- 3to break a rule
- To fail to obey a law, rule or promise.Also: violate, breach, break a promise.
- 4to defeat
- To beat or overcome an opponent, or bring down a government.Also: beat, overthrow, rout.
Other Irish verbs for to break: sáraigh (violate)
“Bris” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Bhris méI broke | Níor bhris méI did not break | Ar bhris mé?Did I break? |
| tú (you) | Bhris túYou broke | Níor bhris túYou did not break | Ar bhris tú?Did you break? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bhris sé / síHe broke | Níor bhris sé / síHe did not break | Ar bhris sé / sí?Did he break? |
| sinn (we) | BhriseamarWe broke | Níor bhriseamarWe did not break | Ar bhriseamar?Did we break? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bhris sibhYou broke | Níor bhris sibhYou did not break | Ar bhris sibh?Did you break? |
| siad (they) | Bhris siadThey broke | Níor bhris siadThey did not break | Ar bhris siad?Did they break? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Briseadh | Níor briseadh | Ar briseadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | BrisimI break | Ní bhrisimI do not break | An mbrisim?Do I break? |
| tú (you) | Briseann túYou break | Ní bhriseann túYou do not break | An mbriseann tú?Do you break? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Briseann sé / síHe breaks | Ní bhriseann sé / síHe does not break | An mbriseann sé / sí?Does he break? |
| sinn (we) | BrisimidWe break | Ní bhrisimidWe do not break | An mbrisimid?Do we break? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Briseann sibhYou break | Ní bhriseann sibhYou do not break | An mbriseann sibh?Do you break? |
| siad (they) | Briseann siadThey break | Ní bhriseann siadThey do not break | An mbriseann siad?Do they break? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Bristear | Ní bhristear | An mbristear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Brisfidh méI will break | Ní bhrisfidh méI will not break | An mbrisfidh mé?Will I break? |
| tú (you) | Brisfidh túYou will break | Ní bhrisfidh túYou will not break | An mbrisfidh tú?Will you break? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Brisfidh sé / síHe will break | Ní bhrisfidh sé / síHe will not break | An mbrisfidh sé / sí?Will he break? |
| sinn (we) | BrisfimidWe will break | Ní bhrisfimidWe will not break | An mbrisfimid?Will we break? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Brisfidh sibhYou will break | Ní bhrisfidh sibhYou will not break | An mbrisfidh sibh?Will you break? |
| siad (they) | Brisfidh siadThey will break | Ní bhrisfidh siadThey will not break | An mbrisfidh siad?Will they break? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Brisfear | Ní bhrisfear | An mbrisfear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | BhrisfinnI would break | Ní bhrisfinnI would not break | An mbrisfinn?Would I break? |
| tú (you) | BhrisfeáYou would break | Ní bhrisfeáYou would not break | An mbrisfeá?Would you break? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bhrisfeadh sé / síHe would break | Ní bhrisfeadh sé / síHe would not break | An mbrisfeadh sé / sí?Would he break? |
| sinn (we) | BhrisfimisWe would break | Ní bhrisfimisWe would not break | An mbrisfimis?Would we break? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bhrisfeadh sibhYou would break | Ní bhrisfeadh sibhYou would not break | An mbrisfeadh sibh?Would you break? |
| siad (they) | BhrisfidísThey would break | Ní bhrisfidísThey would not break | An mbrisfidís?Would they break? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Bhrisfí | Ní bhrisfí | An mbrisfí? |
“Bris” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Bhris mé an ghloine sa chistin aréir.
I broke the glass in the kitchen last night.
Briseann sé rud éigin gach lá.
He breaks something every day.
Brisfidh tú do chos má thiteann tú.
You'll break your leg if you fall.
Bhrisfeadh an bainisteoir é dá mbeadh sé déanach arís.
The manager would sack him if he were late again.
Níor bhris sí a gealltanas riamh.
She never broke her promise.
Ar bhris tú an fhuinneog?
Did you break the window?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To break in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to break?
The Irish for to break is bris (pronounced “brish”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is briseadh.
What is the verbal noun of bris?
The verbal noun of bris is briseadh, used after ag for the continuous: ag briseadh (breaking). The verbal adjective is briste.
How do you say bris in the past and the future?
Past: Bhris mé; negative Níor bhris mé; question Ar bhris mé?. Future: Brisfidh mé; negative Ní bhrisfidh mé; question An mbrisfidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of bris?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Bhrisfinn (I would break); negative Ní bhrisfinn; question An mbrisfinn?.
Does bris have more than one meaning?
Yes. Bris can mean to break, to dismiss, to break a rule or to defeat, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do you say 'to break out' in Irish?
Use 'bris amach', as in 'Bhris cogadh amach' (A war broke out).
Does 'bris' mean to fire someone?
Yes, 'bris' alone or 'bris as a phost' means to dismiss: 'Briseadh as a phost é' (He was sacked).
