HeyRuaHow to say “to demand” in Irish
- Irish:
- éiligh
- English:
- to demand, claim, require, complain
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- éileamh (ag éileamh, demanding)
- Verbal adjective:
- éilithe
- Pronunciation:
- “AY-lee” /ˈeːlʲiː/
What does “éiligh” mean?
“Éiligh” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to demand
- To ask for something firmly, as if you have a right to it.Also: insist on, call for.
3 other meanings: claim or require or complain
- 2to claim
- To ask for something you say is yours or owed to you, such as money or a right.Also: lay claim to, apply for.
- 3to require
- Of a thing or situation: to need or call for something.Also: need, call for.
- 4to complain
- To complain about an ailment or a grievance (éiligh ar).Also: complain of.
“Éiligh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'éiligh méI demanded | Níor éiligh méI did not demand | Ar éiligh mé?Did I demand? |
| tú (you) | D'éiligh túYou demanded | Níor éiligh túYou did not demand | Ar éiligh tú?Did you demand? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'éiligh sé / síHe demanded | Níor éiligh sé / síHe did not demand | Ar éiligh sé / sí?Did he demand? |
| sinn (we) | D'éilíomarWe demanded | Níor éilíomarWe did not demand | Ar éilíomar?Did we demand? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'éiligh sibhYou demanded | Níor éiligh sibhYou did not demand | Ar éiligh sibh?Did you demand? |
| siad (they) | D'éiligh siadThey demanded | Níor éiligh siadThey did not demand | Ar éiligh siad?Did they demand? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Éilíodh | Níor éilíodh | Ar éilíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ÉilímI demand | Ní éilímI do not demand | An éilím?Do I demand? |
| tú (you) | Éilíonn túYou demand | Ní éilíonn túYou do not demand | An éilíonn tú?Do you demand? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Éilíonn sé / síHe demands | Ní éilíonn sé / síHe does not demand | An éilíonn sé / sí?Does he demand? |
| sinn (we) | ÉilímidWe demand | Ní éilímidWe do not demand | An éilímid?Do we demand? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Éilíonn sibhYou demand | Ní éilíonn sibhYou do not demand | An éilíonn sibh?Do you demand? |
| siad (they) | Éilíonn siadThey demand | Ní éilíonn siadThey do not demand | An éilíonn siad?Do they demand? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Éilítear | Ní éilítear | An éilítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Éileoidh méI will demand | Ní éileoidh méI will not demand | An éileoidh mé?Will I demand? |
| tú (you) | Éileoidh túYou will demand | Ní éileoidh túYou will not demand | An éileoidh tú?Will you demand? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Éileoidh sé / síHe will demand | Ní éileoidh sé / síHe will not demand | An éileoidh sé / sí?Will he demand? |
| sinn (we) | ÉileoimidWe will demand | Ní éileoimidWe will not demand | An éileoimid?Will we demand? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Éileoidh sibhYou will demand | Ní éileoidh sibhYou will not demand | An éileoidh sibh?Will you demand? |
| siad (they) | Éileoidh siadThey will demand | Ní éileoidh siadThey will not demand | An éileoidh siad?Will they demand? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Éileofar | Ní éileofar | An éileofar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'éileoinnI would demand | Ní éileoinnI would not demand | An éileoinn?Would I demand? |
| tú (you) | D'éileofáYou would demand | Ní éileofáYou would not demand | An éileofá?Would you demand? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'éileodh sé / síHe would demand | Ní éileodh sé / síHe would not demand | An éileodh sé / sí?Would he demand? |
| sinn (we) | D'éileoimisWe would demand | Ní éileoimisWe would not demand | An éileoimis?Would we demand? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'éileodh sibhYou would demand | Ní éileodh sibhYou would not demand | An éileodh sibh?Would you demand? |
| siad (they) | D'éileoidísThey would demand | Ní éileoidísThey would not demand | An éileoidís?Would they demand? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | D'éileofaí | Ní éileofaí | An éileofaí? |
“Éiligh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
D'éiligh na hoibrithe pá níos airde.
The workers demanded higher pay.
Éilíonn an obair seo a lán foighne.
This work requires a lot of patience.
Éileoidh sí an t-airgead ar ais.
She will claim the money back.
D'éileodh siad cúiteamh dá mbeadh an deis acu.
They would demand compensation if they had the chance.
Níor éiligh sé aon rud orainn.
He didn't demand anything of us.
Ar éiligh tú do chuid costas fós?
Did you claim your expenses yet?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To demand in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to demand?
The Irish for to demand is éiligh (pronounced “AY-lee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is éileamh.
What is the verbal noun of éiligh?
The verbal noun of éiligh is éileamh, used after ag for the continuous: ag éileamh (demanding). The verbal adjective is éilithe.
How do you say éiligh in the past and the future?
Past: D'éiligh mé; negative Níor éiligh mé; question Ar éiligh mé?. Future: Éileoidh mé; negative Ní éileoidh mé; question An éileoidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of éiligh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is D'éileoinn (I would demand); negative Ní éileoinn; question An éileoinn?.
Does éiligh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Éiligh can mean to demand, to claim, to require or to complain, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'éiligh' and 'iarr'?
'Iarr' is a neutral 'ask for', while 'éiligh' is stronger, meaning to demand or claim as a right: D'éiligh siad a gcearta.
Which preposition does 'éiligh' take?
You demand something of a person with 'ar': D'éiligh sé airgead orm, he demanded money from me.
