HeyRuaHow to say “to claim” in Irish
- Irish:
- maígh
- English:
- to claim, boast, begrudge
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- maíomh (ag maíomh, claiming)
- Verbal adjective:
- maíte
- Pronunciation:
- “meev” /mˠiːvʲ/
What does “maígh” mean?
“Maígh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to claim
- To state or assert that something is true, often without proof.Also: assert, state, declare, maintain.
2 other meanings: boast or begrudge
- 2to boast
- To speak proudly about something you have or have done (maígh as).Also: brag, pride oneself.
- 3to begrudge
- To resent someone having something (maígh ar).Also: envy, grudge.
“Maígh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Mhaígh méI claimed | Níor mhaígh méI did not claim | Ar mhaígh mé?Did I claim? |
| tú (you) | Mhaígh túYou claimed | Níor mhaígh túYou did not claim | Ar mhaígh tú?Did you claim? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mhaígh sé / síHe claimed | Níor mhaígh sé / síHe did not claim | Ar mhaígh sé / sí?Did he claim? |
| sinn (we) | MhaíomarWe claimed | Níor mhaíomarWe did not claim | Ar mhaíomar?Did we claim? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mhaígh sibhYou claimed | Níor mhaígh sibhYou did not claim | Ar mhaígh sibh?Did you claim? |
| siad (they) | Mhaígh siadThey claimed | Níor mhaígh siadThey did not claim | Ar mhaígh siad?Did they claim? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Maíodh | Níor maíodh | Ar maíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MaímI claim | Ní mhaímI do not claim | An maím?Do I claim? |
| tú (you) | Maíonn túYou claim | Ní mhaíonn túYou do not claim | An maíonn tú?Do you claim? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Maíonn sé / síHe claims | Ní mhaíonn sé / síHe does not claim | An maíonn sé / sí?Does he claim? |
| sinn (we) | MaímidWe claim | Ní mhaímidWe do not claim | An maímid?Do we claim? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Maíonn sibhYou claim | Ní mhaíonn sibhYou do not claim | An maíonn sibh?Do you claim? |
| siad (they) | Maíonn siadThey claim | Ní mhaíonn siadThey do not claim | An maíonn siad?Do they claim? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Maítear | Ní mhaítear | An maítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Maífidh méI will claim | Ní mhaífidh méI will not claim | An maífidh mé?Will I claim? |
| tú (you) | Maífidh túYou will claim | Ní mhaífidh túYou will not claim | An maífidh tú?Will you claim? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Maífidh sé / síHe will claim | Ní mhaífidh sé / síHe will not claim | An maífidh sé / sí?Will he claim? |
| sinn (we) | MaífimidWe will claim | Ní mhaífimidWe will not claim | An maífimid?Will we claim? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Maífidh sibhYou will claim | Ní mhaífidh sibhYou will not claim | An maífidh sibh?Will you claim? |
| siad (they) | Maífidh siadThey will claim | Ní mhaífidh siadThey will not claim | An maífidh siad?Will they claim? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Maífear | Ní mhaífear | An maífear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MhaífinnI would claim | Ní mhaífinnI would not claim | An maífinn?Would I claim? |
| tú (you) | MhaífeáYou would claim | Ní mhaífeáYou would not claim | An maífeá?Would you claim? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mhaífeadh sé / síHe would claim | Ní mhaífeadh sé / síHe would not claim | An maífeadh sé / sí?Would he claim? |
| sinn (we) | MhaífimisWe would claim | Ní mhaífimisWe would not claim | An maífimis?Would we claim? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mhaífeadh sibhYou would claim | Ní mhaífeadh sibhYou would not claim | An maífeadh sibh?Would you claim? |
| siad (they) | MhaífidísThey would claim | Ní mhaífidísThey would not claim | An maífidís?Would they claim? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Mhaífí | Ní mhaífí | An maífí? |
“Maígh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To claim in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to claim?
The Irish for to claim is maígh (pronounced “meev”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is maíomh.
What is the verbal noun of maígh?
The verbal noun of maígh is maíomh, used after ag for the continuous: ag maíomh (claiming). The verbal adjective is maíte.
How do you say maígh in the past and the future?
Past: Mhaígh mé; negative Níor mhaígh mé; question Ar mhaígh mé?. Future: Maífidh mé; negative Ní mhaífidh mé; question An maífidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of maígh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Mhaífinn (I would claim); negative Ní mhaífinn; question An maífinn?.
Does maígh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Maígh can mean to claim, to boast or to begrudge, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'boast about' with maígh?
Use the preposition 'as': mhaígh sé as a theach nua, he boasted about his new house.
Is maígh the same as éiligh?
No. 'Maígh' means to claim in the sense of assert, while 'éiligh' means to claim or demand something as a right, e.g. éiligh cúiteamh, claim compensation.
