HeyRuaHow to say “to decline” in Irish
- Irish:
- meath
- English:
- to decline, waste
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- meath (ag meath, declining)
- Verbal adjective:
- meata
- Pronunciation:
- “mah” /mʲah/
What does “meath” mean?
“Meath” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to decline
- To become weaker, smaller or worse over time.Also: deteriorate, decay, fail, wane.
1 other meaning: waste
- 2to waste
- To use something up or let it be lost without benefit.Also: fritter away, squander.
Other Irish verbs for to decline: diúltaigh (refuse)
“Meath” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Mheath méI declined | Níor mheath méI did not decline | Ar mheath mé?Did I decline? |
| tú (you) | Mheath túYou declined | Níor mheath túYou did not decline | Ar mheath tú?Did you decline? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mheath sé / síHe declined | Níor mheath sé / síHe did not decline | Ar mheath sé / sí?Did he decline? |
| sinn (we) | MheathamarWe declined | Níor mheathamarWe did not decline | Ar mheathamar?Did we decline? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mheath sibhYou declined | Níor mheath sibhYou did not decline | Ar mheath sibh?Did you decline? |
| siad (they) | Mheath siadThey declined | Níor mheath siadThey did not decline | Ar mheath siad?Did they decline? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Meathadh | Níor meathadh | Ar meathadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MeathaimI decline | Ní mheathaimI do not decline | An meathaim?Do I decline? |
| tú (you) | Meathann túYou decline | Ní mheathann túYou do not decline | An meathann tú?Do you decline? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Meathann sé / síHe declines | Ní mheathann sé / síHe does not decline | An meathann sé / sí?Does he decline? |
| sinn (we) | MeathaimidWe decline | Ní mheathaimidWe do not decline | An meathaimid?Do we decline? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Meathann sibhYou decline | Ní mheathann sibhYou do not decline | An meathann sibh?Do you decline? |
| siad (they) | Meathann siadThey decline | Ní mheathann siadThey do not decline | An meathann siad?Do they decline? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Meatar | Ní mheatar | An meatar? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Meathfaidh méI will decline | Ní mheathfaidh méI will not decline | An meathfaidh mé?Will I decline? |
| tú (you) | Meathfaidh túYou will decline | Ní mheathfaidh túYou will not decline | An meathfaidh tú?Will you decline? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Meathfaidh sé / síHe will decline | Ní mheathfaidh sé / síHe will not decline | An meathfaidh sé / sí?Will he decline? |
| sinn (we) | MeathfaimidWe will decline | Ní mheathfaimidWe will not decline | An meathfaimid?Will we decline? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Meathfaidh sibhYou will decline | Ní mheathfaidh sibhYou will not decline | An meathfaidh sibh?Will you decline? |
| siad (they) | Meathfaidh siadThey will decline | Ní mheathfaidh siadThey will not decline | An meathfaidh siad?Will they decline? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Meathfar | Ní mheathfar | An meathfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MheathfainnI would decline | Ní mheathfainnI would not decline | An meathfainn?Would I decline? |
| tú (you) | MheathfáYou would decline | Ní mheathfáYou would not decline | An meathfá?Would you decline? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mheathfadh sé / síHe would decline | Ní mheathfadh sé / síHe would not decline | An meathfadh sé / sí?Would he decline? |
| sinn (we) | MheathfaimisWe would decline | Ní mheathfaimisWe would not decline | An meathfaimis?Would we decline? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mheathfadh sibhYou would decline | Ní mheathfadh sibhYou would not decline | An meathfadh sibh?Would you decline? |
| siad (they) | MheathfaidísThey would decline | Ní mheathfaidísThey would not decline | An meathfaidís?Would they decline? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Mheathfaí | Ní mheathfaí | An meathfaí? |
“Meath” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Mheath a shláinte go mór anuraidh.
His health declined greatly last year.
Meathann na plandaí sa gheimhreadh.
The plants wither in winter.
Meathfaidh an teanga mura labhraítear í.
The language will decline if it isn't spoken.
Mheathfadh an baile gan obair.
The town would decline without work.
Níor mheath a misneach riamh.
Her courage never failed.
Ar mheath a shláinte le tamall?
Has his health declined lately?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To decline in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to decline?
The Irish for to decline is meath (pronounced “mah”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is meath.
What is the verbal noun of meath?
The verbal noun of meath is meath, used after ag for the continuous: ag meath (declining). The verbal adjective is meata.
How do you say meath in the past and the future?
Past: Mheath mé; negative Níor mheath mé; question Ar mheath mé?. Future: Meathfaidh mé; negative Ní mheathfaidh mé; question An meathfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of meath?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Mheathfainn (I would decline); negative Ní mheathfainn; question An meathfainn?.
Does meath have more than one meaning?
Yes. Meath can mean to decline or to waste, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Is 'meath' also a noun?
Yes, 'meath' is also a noun meaning decline or decay, as in 'tá meath tagtha ar an teanga', the language has declined.
