HeyRuaHow to say “to delay” in Irish
- Irish:
- moilligh
- English:
- to delay, slow down
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- moilliú (ag moilliú, delaying)
- Verbal adjective:
- moillithe
- Pronunciation:
- “MIL-ee” /mˠɪlʲiː/
What does “moilligh” mean?
“Moilligh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to delay
- To make someone or something late or slower than planned.Also: hold up, detain, retard.
1 other meaning: slow down
- 2to slow down
- To reduce speed or become slower.Also: slow, slacken.
“Moilligh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Mhoilligh méI delayed | Níor mhoilligh méI did not delay | Ar mhoilligh mé?Did I delay? |
| tú (you) | Mhoilligh túYou delayed | Níor mhoilligh túYou did not delay | Ar mhoilligh tú?Did you delay? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mhoilligh sé / síHe delayed | Níor mhoilligh sé / síHe did not delay | Ar mhoilligh sé / sí?Did he delay? |
| sinn (we) | MhoillíomarWe delayed | Níor mhoillíomarWe did not delay | Ar mhoillíomar?Did we delay? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mhoilligh sibhYou delayed | Níor mhoilligh sibhYou did not delay | Ar mhoilligh sibh?Did you delay? |
| siad (they) | Mhoilligh siadThey delayed | Níor mhoilligh siadThey did not delay | Ar mhoilligh siad?Did they delay? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Moillíodh | Níor moillíodh | Ar moillíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MoillímI delay | Ní mhoillímI do not delay | An moillím?Do I delay? |
| tú (you) | Moillíonn túYou delay | Ní mhoillíonn túYou do not delay | An moillíonn tú?Do you delay? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Moillíonn sé / síHe delays | Ní mhoillíonn sé / síHe does not delay | An moillíonn sé / sí?Does he delay? |
| sinn (we) | MoillímidWe delay | Ní mhoillímidWe do not delay | An moillímid?Do we delay? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Moillíonn sibhYou delay | Ní mhoillíonn sibhYou do not delay | An moillíonn sibh?Do you delay? |
| siad (they) | Moillíonn siadThey delay | Ní mhoillíonn siadThey do not delay | An moillíonn siad?Do they delay? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Moillítear | Ní mhoillítear | An moillítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Moilleoidh méI will delay | Ní mhoilleoidh méI will not delay | An moilleoidh mé?Will I delay? |
| tú (you) | Moilleoidh túYou will delay | Ní mhoilleoidh túYou will not delay | An moilleoidh tú?Will you delay? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Moilleoidh sé / síHe will delay | Ní mhoilleoidh sé / síHe will not delay | An moilleoidh sé / sí?Will he delay? |
| sinn (we) | MoilleoimidWe will delay | Ní mhoilleoimidWe will not delay | An moilleoimid?Will we delay? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Moilleoidh sibhYou will delay | Ní mhoilleoidh sibhYou will not delay | An moilleoidh sibh?Will you delay? |
| siad (they) | Moilleoidh siadThey will delay | Ní mhoilleoidh siadThey will not delay | An moilleoidh siad?Will they delay? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Moilleofar | Ní mhoilleofar | An moilleofar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MhoilleoinnI would delay | Ní mhoilleoinnI would not delay | An moilleoinn?Would I delay? |
| tú (you) | MhoilleofáYou would delay | Ní mhoilleofáYou would not delay | An moilleofá?Would you delay? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mhoilleodh sé / síHe would delay | Ní mhoilleodh sé / síHe would not delay | An moilleodh sé / sí?Would he delay? |
| sinn (we) | MhoilleoimisWe would delay | Ní mhoilleoimisWe would not delay | An moilleoimis?Would we delay? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mhoilleodh sibhYou would delay | Ní mhoilleodh sibhYou would not delay | An moilleodh sibh?Would you delay? |
| siad (they) | MhoilleoidísThey would delay | Ní mhoilleoidísThey would not delay | An moilleoidís?Would they delay? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Mhoilleofaí | Ní mhoilleofaí | An moilleofaí? |
“Moilligh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Mhoilligh an trácht sinn ar maidin.
The traffic delayed us this morning.
Moillíonn an bháisteach na traenacha go minic.
The rain often delays the trains.
Moilleoidh an stoirm an eitilt.
The storm will delay the flight.
Mhoilleodh sé sin an obair go mór.
That would delay the work greatly.
Níor mhoilligh sé ar an mbóthar.
He didn't slow down on the road.
Ar mhoilligh an aimsir thú?
Did the weather delay you?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To delay in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to delay?
The Irish for to delay is moilligh (pronounced “MIL-ee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is moilliú.
What is the verbal noun of moilligh?
The verbal noun of moilligh is moilliú, used after ag for the continuous: ag moilliú (delaying). The verbal adjective is moillithe.
How do you say moilligh in the past and the future?
Past: Mhoilligh mé; negative Níor mhoilligh mé; question Ar mhoilligh mé?. Future: Moilleoidh mé; negative Ní mhoilleoidh mé; question An moilleoidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of moilligh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Mhoilleoinn (I would delay); negative Ní mhoilleoinn; question An moilleoinn?.
Does moilligh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Moilligh can mean to delay or to slow down, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Is there another common way to say 'delay' in Irish?
Yes, 'cuir moill ar' is very common, for example 'chuir an trácht moill orm', the traffic delayed me. 'Moilligh' is the single verb from the noun 'moill'.
