HeyRuaHow to say “to curse” in Irish
- Irish:
- mallaigh
- English:
- to curse, swear
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- mallú (ag mallú, cursing)
- Verbal adjective:
- mallaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “MAL-ee” /ˈmˠal̪ˠiː/
What does “mallaigh” mean?
“Mallaigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to curse
- To call down harm or misfortune on someone or something.Also: damn, put a curse on, execrate.
1 other meaning: swear
- 2to swear
- To use bad language or utter curses.Also: curse, use bad language.
Other Irish verbs for to curse: eascainigh (curse)
“Mallaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Mhallaigh méI cursed | Níor mhallaigh méI did not curse | Ar mhallaigh mé?Did I curse? |
| tú (you) | Mhallaigh túYou cursed | Níor mhallaigh túYou did not curse | Ar mhallaigh tú?Did you curse? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mhallaigh sé / síHe cursed | Níor mhallaigh sé / síHe did not curse | Ar mhallaigh sé / sí?Did he curse? |
| sinn (we) | MhallaíomarWe cursed | Níor mhallaíomarWe did not curse | Ar mhallaíomar?Did we curse? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mhallaigh sibhYou cursed | Níor mhallaigh sibhYou did not curse | Ar mhallaigh sibh?Did you curse? |
| siad (they) | Mhallaigh siadThey cursed | Níor mhallaigh siadThey did not curse | Ar mhallaigh siad?Did they curse? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Mallaíodh | Níor mallaíodh | Ar mallaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MallaímI curse | Ní mhallaímI do not curse | An mallaím?Do I curse? |
| tú (you) | Mallaíonn túYou curse | Ní mhallaíonn túYou do not curse | An mallaíonn tú?Do you curse? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mallaíonn sé / síHe curses | Ní mhallaíonn sé / síHe does not curse | An mallaíonn sé / sí?Does he curse? |
| sinn (we) | MallaímidWe curse | Ní mhallaímidWe do not curse | An mallaímid?Do we curse? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mallaíonn sibhYou curse | Ní mhallaíonn sibhYou do not curse | An mallaíonn sibh?Do you curse? |
| siad (they) | Mallaíonn siadThey curse | Ní mhallaíonn siadThey do not curse | An mallaíonn siad?Do they curse? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Mallaítear | Ní mhallaítear | An mallaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Mallóidh méI will curse | Ní mhallóidh méI will not curse | An mallóidh mé?Will I curse? |
| tú (you) | Mallóidh túYou will curse | Ní mhallóidh túYou will not curse | An mallóidh tú?Will you curse? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mallóidh sé / síHe will curse | Ní mhallóidh sé / síHe will not curse | An mallóidh sé / sí?Will he curse? |
| sinn (we) | MallóimidWe will curse | Ní mhallóimidWe will not curse | An mallóimid?Will we curse? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mallóidh sibhYou will curse | Ní mhallóidh sibhYou will not curse | An mallóidh sibh?Will you curse? |
| siad (they) | Mallóidh siadThey will curse | Ní mhallóidh siadThey will not curse | An mallóidh siad?Will they curse? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Mallófar | Ní mhallófar | An mallófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MhallóinnI would curse | Ní mhallóinnI would not curse | An mallóinn?Would I curse? |
| tú (you) | MhallófáYou would curse | Ní mhallófáYou would not curse | An mallófá?Would you curse? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mhallódh sé / síHe would curse | Ní mhallódh sé / síHe would not curse | An mallódh sé / sí?Would he curse? |
| sinn (we) | MhallóimisWe would curse | Ní mhallóimisWe would not curse | An mallóimis?Would we curse? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mhallódh sibhYou would curse | Ní mhallódh sibhYou would not curse | An mallódh sibh?Would you curse? |
| siad (they) | MhallóidísThey would curse | Ní mhallóidísThey would not curse | An mallóidís?Would they curse? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Mhallófaí | Ní mhallófaí | An mallófaí? |
“Mallaigh” 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 curse in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to curse?
The Irish for to curse is mallaigh (pronounced “MAL-ee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is mallú.
What is the verbal noun of mallaigh?
The verbal noun of mallaigh is mallú, used after ag for the continuous: ag mallú (cursing). The verbal adjective is mallaithe.
How do you say mallaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Mhallaigh mé; negative Níor mhallaigh mé; question Ar mhallaigh mé?. Future: Mallóidh mé; negative Ní mhallóidh mé; question An mallóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of mallaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Mhallóinn (I would curse); negative Ní mhallóinn; question An mallóinn?.
Does mallaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Mallaigh can mean to curse or to swear, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'mallaigh' and 'eascainigh'?
'Mallaigh' means to put a curse on someone, while 'eascainigh' is the usual word for swearing or using bad language. 'Mallaigh' can also mean swear, but 'eascainigh' is more common in that sense.
How do I say 'cursed' as an adjective?
Use the verbal adjective 'mallaithe', as in 'an áit mhallaithe sin', that cursed place.
