HeyRuaHow to say “to bully” in Irish
- Irish:
- ansmachtaigh
- English:
- to bully
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- ansmachtú (ag ansmachtú, bullying)
- Verbal adjective:
- ansmachtaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “AN-smokh-tee” /ˈanˌsˠmˠaxt̪ˠiː/
What does “ansmachtaigh” mean?
- to bully
- To treat someone harshly by using power or force over them.Also: oppress, tyrannize, domineer, browbeat.
“Ansmachtaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'ansmachtaigh méI bullied | Níor ansmachtaigh méI did not bully | Ar ansmachtaigh mé?Did I bully? |
| tú (you) | D'ansmachtaigh túYou bullied | Níor ansmachtaigh túYou did not bully | Ar ansmachtaigh tú?Did you bully? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'ansmachtaigh sé / síHe bullied | Níor ansmachtaigh sé / síHe did not bully | Ar ansmachtaigh sé / sí?Did he bully? |
| sinn (we) | D'ansmachtaíomarWe bullied | Níor ansmachtaíomarWe did not bully | Ar ansmachtaíomar?Did we bully? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'ansmachtaigh sibhYou bullied | Níor ansmachtaigh sibhYou did not bully | Ar ansmachtaigh sibh?Did you bully? |
| siad (they) | D'ansmachtaigh siadThey bullied | Níor ansmachtaigh siadThey did not bully | Ar ansmachtaigh siad?Did they bully? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Ansmachtaíodh | Níor ansmachtaíodh | Ar ansmachtaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | AnsmachtaímI bully | Ní ansmachtaímI do not bully | An ansmachtaím?Do I bully? |
| tú (you) | Ansmachtaíonn túYou bully | Ní ansmachtaíonn túYou do not bully | An ansmachtaíonn tú?Do you bully? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ansmachtaíonn sé / síHe bullies | Ní ansmachtaíonn sé / síHe does not bully | An ansmachtaíonn sé / sí?Does he bully? |
| sinn (we) | AnsmachtaímidWe bully | Ní ansmachtaímidWe do not bully | An ansmachtaímid?Do we bully? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ansmachtaíonn sibhYou bully | Ní ansmachtaíonn sibhYou do not bully | An ansmachtaíonn sibh?Do you bully? |
| siad (they) | Ansmachtaíonn siadThey bully | Ní ansmachtaíonn siadThey do not bully | An ansmachtaíonn siad?Do they bully? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Ansmachtaítear | Ní ansmachtaítear | An ansmachtaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Ansmachtóidh méI will bully | Ní ansmachtóidh méI will not bully | An ansmachtóidh mé?Will I bully? |
| tú (you) | Ansmachtóidh túYou will bully | Ní ansmachtóidh túYou will not bully | An ansmachtóidh tú?Will you bully? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ansmachtóidh sé / síHe will bully | Ní ansmachtóidh sé / síHe will not bully | An ansmachtóidh sé / sí?Will he bully? |
| sinn (we) | AnsmachtóimidWe will bully | Ní ansmachtóimidWe will not bully | An ansmachtóimid?Will we bully? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ansmachtóidh sibhYou will bully | Ní ansmachtóidh sibhYou will not bully | An ansmachtóidh sibh?Will you bully? |
| siad (they) | Ansmachtóidh siadThey will bully | Ní ansmachtóidh siadThey will not bully | An ansmachtóidh siad?Will they bully? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Ansmachtófar | Ní ansmachtófar | An ansmachtófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'ansmachtóinnI would bully | Ní ansmachtóinnI would not bully | An ansmachtóinn?Would I bully? |
| tú (you) | D'ansmachtófáYou would bully | Ní ansmachtófáYou would not bully | An ansmachtófá?Would you bully? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'ansmachtódh sé / síHe would bully | Ní ansmachtódh sé / síHe would not bully | An ansmachtódh sé / sí?Would he bully? |
| sinn (we) | D'ansmachtóimisWe would bully | Ní ansmachtóimisWe would not bully | An ansmachtóimis?Would we bully? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'ansmachtódh sibhYou would bully | Ní ansmachtódh sibhYou would not bully | An ansmachtódh sibh?Would you bully? |
| siad (they) | D'ansmachtóidísThey would bully | Ní ansmachtóidísThey would not bully | An ansmachtóidís?Would they bully? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | D'ansmachtófaí | Ní ansmachtófaí | An ansmachtófaí? |
“Ansmachtaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
D'ansmachtaigh sé na páistí beaga sa chlós.
He bullied the small children in the yard.
Ansmachtaíonn an saoiste na hoibrithe nua.
The foreman bullies the new workers.
Ansmachtóidh siad thú má ligeann tú dóibh.
They will bully you if you let them.
D'ansmachtódh sé duine ar bith a bheadh lag.
He would bully anyone who was weak.
Níor ansmachtaigh mé riamh aon duine.
I never bullied anyone.
Ar ansmachtaigh siad do dheartháir ar scoil?
Did they bully your brother at school?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To bully in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to bully?
The Irish for to bully is ansmachtaigh (pronounced “AN-smokh-tee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is ansmachtú.
What is the verbal noun of ansmachtaigh?
The verbal noun of ansmachtaigh is ansmachtú, used after ag for the continuous: ag ansmachtú (bullying). The verbal adjective is ansmachtaithe.
How do you say ansmachtaigh in the past and the future?
Past: D'ansmachtaigh mé; negative Níor ansmachtaigh mé; question Ar ansmachtaigh mé?. Future: Ansmachtóidh mé; negative Ní ansmachtóidh mé; question An ansmachtóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of ansmachtaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is D'ansmachtóinn (I would bully); negative Ní ansmachtóinn; question An ansmachtóinn?.
How is 'ansmachtaigh' related to 'smachtaigh'?
'Smachtaigh' means to control or discipline, while 'ansmachtaigh' adds the intensifying prefix 'an-' and means to use excessive control, to bully or oppress.
Is there a common noun for bullying?
In everyday speech 'bulaíocht' is often used for bullying, while 'ansmacht' means tyranny or oppression.
