HeyRuaHow to say “to choose” in Irish
- Irish:
- roghnaigh
- English:
- to choose, select
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- roghnú (ag roghnú, choosing)
- Verbal adjective:
- roghnaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “ROW-nee” /ˈɾˠəunˠiː/
What does “roghnaigh” mean?
“Roghnaigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to choose
- To pick one thing or person from a number of possibilities.Also: select, pick, opt for.
1 other meaning: select
- 2to select
- To pick someone for a team, post or role.Also: pick, appoint.
“Roghnaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Roghnaigh méI chose | Níor roghnaigh méI did not choose | Ar roghnaigh mé?Did I choose? |
| tú (you) | Roghnaigh túYou chose | Níor roghnaigh túYou did not choose | Ar roghnaigh tú?Did you choose? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Roghnaigh sé / síHe chose | Níor roghnaigh sé / síHe did not choose | Ar roghnaigh sé / sí?Did he choose? |
| sinn (we) | RoghnaíomarWe chose | Níor roghnaíomarWe did not choose | Ar roghnaíomar?Did we choose? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Roghnaigh sibhYou chose | Níor roghnaigh sibhYou did not choose | Ar roghnaigh sibh?Did you choose? |
| siad (they) | Roghnaigh siadThey chose | Níor roghnaigh siadThey did not choose | Ar roghnaigh siad?Did they choose? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Roghnaíodh | Níor roghnaíodh | Ar roghnaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | RoghnaímI choose | Ní roghnaímI do not choose | An roghnaím?Do I choose? |
| tú (you) | Roghnaíonn túYou choose | Ní roghnaíonn túYou do not choose | An roghnaíonn tú?Do you choose? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Roghnaíonn sé / síHe chooses | Ní roghnaíonn sé / síHe does not choose | An roghnaíonn sé / sí?Does he choose? |
| sinn (we) | RoghnaímidWe choose | Ní roghnaímidWe do not choose | An roghnaímid?Do we choose? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Roghnaíonn sibhYou choose | Ní roghnaíonn sibhYou do not choose | An roghnaíonn sibh?Do you choose? |
| siad (they) | Roghnaíonn siadThey choose | Ní roghnaíonn siadThey do not choose | An roghnaíonn siad?Do they choose? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Roghnaítear | Ní roghnaítear | An roghnaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Roghnóidh méI will choose | Ní roghnóidh méI will not choose | An roghnóidh mé?Will I choose? |
| tú (you) | Roghnóidh túYou will choose | Ní roghnóidh túYou will not choose | An roghnóidh tú?Will you choose? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Roghnóidh sé / síHe will choose | Ní roghnóidh sé / síHe will not choose | An roghnóidh sé / sí?Will he choose? |
| sinn (we) | RoghnóimidWe will choose | Ní roghnóimidWe will not choose | An roghnóimid?Will we choose? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Roghnóidh sibhYou will choose | Ní roghnóidh sibhYou will not choose | An roghnóidh sibh?Will you choose? |
| siad (they) | Roghnóidh siadThey will choose | Ní roghnóidh siadThey will not choose | An roghnóidh siad?Will they choose? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Roghnófar | Ní roghnófar | An roghnófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | RoghnóinnI would choose | Ní roghnóinnI would not choose | An roghnóinn?Would I choose? |
| tú (you) | RoghnófáYou would choose | Ní roghnófáYou would not choose | An roghnófá?Would you choose? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Roghnódh sé / síHe would choose | Ní roghnódh sé / síHe would not choose | An roghnódh sé / sí?Would he choose? |
| sinn (we) | RoghnóimisWe would choose | Ní roghnóimisWe would not choose | An roghnóimis?Would we choose? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Roghnódh sibhYou would choose | Ní roghnódh sibhYou would not choose | An roghnódh sibh?Would you choose? |
| siad (they) | RoghnóidísThey would choose | Ní roghnóidísThey would not choose | An roghnóidís?Would they choose? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Roghnófaí | Ní roghnófaí | An roghnófaí? |
“Roghnaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Roghnaigh sí an gúna dearg don chóisir.
She chose the red dress for the party.
Roghnaíonn an múinteoir dalta difriúil gach lá.
The teacher chooses a different pupil every day.
Roghnóimid contae agus déanfaimid clár faoi.
We'll choose a county and make a programme about it.
Cé acu bealach a roghnófá?
Which route would you choose?
Níor roghnaigh an bainisteoir é don fhoireann.
The manager didn't pick him for the team.
Ar roghnaigh tú leabhar fós?
Have you chosen a book yet?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To choose in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to choose?
The Irish for to choose is roghnaigh (pronounced “ROW-nee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is roghnú.
What is the verbal noun of roghnaigh?
The verbal noun of roghnaigh is roghnú, used after ag for the continuous: ag roghnú (choosing). The verbal adjective is roghnaithe.
How do you say roghnaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Roghnaigh mé; negative Níor roghnaigh mé; question Ar roghnaigh mé?. Future: Roghnóidh mé; negative Ní roghnóidh mé; question An roghnóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of roghnaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Roghnóinn (I would choose); negative Ní roghnóinn; question An roghnóinn?.
Does roghnaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Roghnaigh can mean to choose or to select, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'roghnaigh' and 'togh'?
'Roghnaigh' is the general word for choosing or selecting, while 'togh' is used especially for electing by vote, as in 'toghadh í ina huachtarán'.
