HeyRuaHow to say “to change” in Irish
- Irish:
- athraigh
- English:
- to change, move
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- athrú (ag athrú, changing)
- Verbal adjective:
- athraithe
- Pronunciation:
- “AH-ree” /ˈahɾˠə/
What does “athraigh” mean?
“Athraigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to change
- To make something different, or to become different.Also: alter, vary, modify.
1 other meaning: move
- 2to move
- To move from one place to another, especially to move house or shift something.Also: shift, relocate, move house.
“Athraigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'athraigh méI changed | Níor athraigh méI did not change | Ar athraigh mé?Did I change? |
| tú (you) | D'athraigh túYou changed | Níor athraigh túYou did not change | Ar athraigh tú?Did you change? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'athraigh sé / síHe changed | Níor athraigh sé / síHe did not change | Ar athraigh sé / sí?Did he change? |
| sinn (we) | D'athraíomarWe changed | Níor athraíomarWe did not change | Ar athraíomar?Did we change? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'athraigh sibhYou changed | Níor athraigh sibhYou did not change | Ar athraigh sibh?Did you change? |
| siad (they) | D'athraigh siadThey changed | Níor athraigh siadThey did not change | Ar athraigh siad?Did they change? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Athraíodh | Níor athraíodh | Ar athraíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | AthraímI change | Ní athraímI do not change | An athraím?Do I change? |
| tú (you) | Athraíonn túYou change | Ní athraíonn túYou do not change | An athraíonn tú?Do you change? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Athraíonn sé / síHe changes | Ní athraíonn sé / síHe does not change | An athraíonn sé / sí?Does he change? |
| sinn (we) | AthraímidWe change | Ní athraímidWe do not change | An athraímid?Do we change? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Athraíonn sibhYou change | Ní athraíonn sibhYou do not change | An athraíonn sibh?Do you change? |
| siad (they) | Athraíonn siadThey change | Ní athraíonn siadThey do not change | An athraíonn siad?Do they change? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Athraítear | Ní athraítear | An athraítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Athróidh méI will change | Ní athróidh méI will not change | An athróidh mé?Will I change? |
| tú (you) | Athróidh túYou will change | Ní athróidh túYou will not change | An athróidh tú?Will you change? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Athróidh sé / síHe will change | Ní athróidh sé / síHe will not change | An athróidh sé / sí?Will he change? |
| sinn (we) | AthróimidWe will change | Ní athróimidWe will not change | An athróimid?Will we change? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Athróidh sibhYou will change | Ní athróidh sibhYou will not change | An athróidh sibh?Will you change? |
| siad (they) | Athróidh siadThey will change | Ní athróidh siadThey will not change | An athróidh siad?Will they change? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Athrófar | Ní athrófar | An athrófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'athróinnI would change | Ní athróinnI would not change | An athróinn?Would I change? |
| tú (you) | D'athrófáYou would change | Ní athrófáYou would not change | An athrófá?Would you change? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'athródh sé / síHe would change | Ní athródh sé / síHe would not change | An athródh sé / sí?Would he change? |
| sinn (we) | D'athróimisWe would change | Ní athróimisWe would not change | An athróimis?Would we change? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'athródh sibhYou would change | Ní athródh sibhYou would not change | An athródh sibh?Would you change? |
| siad (they) | D'athróidísThey would change | Ní athróidísThey would not change | An athróidís?Would they change? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | D'athrófaí | Ní athrófaí | An athrófaí? |
“Athraigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
D'athraigh sí a hainm anuraidh.
She changed her name last year.
Athraíonn an aimsir go minic in Éirinn.
The weather changes often in Ireland.
Athróidh mé mo chuid éadaigh roimh an dinnéar.
I will change my clothes before dinner.
D'athróinn mo phlean dá mbeadh an t-am agam.
I would change my plan if I had the time.
Níor athraigh sé a intinn riamh.
He never changed his mind.
Ar athraigh tú teach le déanaí?
Did you move house recently?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To change in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to change?
The Irish for to change is athraigh (pronounced “AH-ree”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is athrú.
What is the verbal noun of athraigh?
The verbal noun of athraigh is athrú, used after ag for the continuous: ag athrú (changing). The verbal adjective is athraithe.
How do you say athraigh in the past and the future?
Past: D'athraigh mé; negative Níor athraigh mé; question Ar athraigh mé?. Future: Athróidh mé; negative Ní athróidh mé; question An athróidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of athraigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is D'athróinn (I would change); negative Ní athróinn; question An athróinn?.
Does athraigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Athraigh can mean to change or to move, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'athraigh' and 'aistrigh'?
'Athraigh' means to change or alter something, while 'aistrigh' usually means to transfer, move or translate, as in 'aistrigh go Gaeilge'.
How do I say 'change your mind' in Irish?
Use 'athraigh d'intinn', for example 'D'athraigh mé m'intinn' means 'I changed my mind'.
