HeyRuaHow to say “to develop” in Irish
- Irish:
- forbair
- English:
- to develop, grow
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- forbairt (ag forbairt, developing)
- Verbal adjective:
- forbartha
- Pronunciation:
- “FOR-uh-bir” /ˈfˠɔɾˠəbˠəɾʲ/
What does “forbair” mean?
“Forbair” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to develop
- To make something grow or improve over time, such as a business, area, skill or plan.Also: build up, expand, improve.
1 other meaning: grow
- 2to grow
- To grow, increase or come to maturity.Also: increase, mature, evolve.
“Forbair” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'fhorbair méI developed | Níor fhorbair méI did not develop | Ar fhorbair mé?Did I develop? |
| tú (you) | D'fhorbair túYou developed | Níor fhorbair túYou did not develop | Ar fhorbair tú?Did you develop? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'fhorbair sé / síHe developed | Níor fhorbair sé / síHe did not develop | Ar fhorbair sé / sí?Did he develop? |
| sinn (we) | D'fhorbraíomarWe developed | Níor fhorbraíomarWe did not develop | Ar fhorbraíomar?Did we develop? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'fhorbair sibhYou developed | Níor fhorbair sibhYou did not develop | Ar fhorbair sibh?Did you develop? |
| siad (they) | D'fhorbair siadThey developed | Níor fhorbair siadThey did not develop | Ar fhorbair siad?Did they develop? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Forbraíodh | Níor forbraíodh | Ar forbraíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ForbraímI develop | Ní fhorbraímI do not develop | An bhforbraím?Do I develop? |
| tú (you) | Forbraíonn túYou develop | Ní fhorbraíonn túYou do not develop | An bhforbraíonn tú?Do you develop? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Forbraíonn sé / síHe develops | Ní fhorbraíonn sé / síHe does not develop | An bhforbraíonn sé / sí?Does he develop? |
| sinn (we) | ForbraímidWe develop | Ní fhorbraímidWe do not develop | An bhforbraímid?Do we develop? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Forbraíonn sibhYou develop | Ní fhorbraíonn sibhYou do not develop | An bhforbraíonn sibh?Do you develop? |
| siad (they) | Forbraíonn siadThey develop | Ní fhorbraíonn siadThey do not develop | An bhforbraíonn siad?Do they develop? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Forbraítear | Ní fhorbraítear | An bhforbraítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Forbróidh méI will develop | Ní fhorbróidh méI will not develop | An bhforbróidh mé?Will I develop? |
| tú (you) | Forbróidh túYou will develop | Ní fhorbróidh túYou will not develop | An bhforbróidh tú?Will you develop? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Forbróidh sé / síHe will develop | Ní fhorbróidh sé / síHe will not develop | An bhforbróidh sé / sí?Will he develop? |
| sinn (we) | ForbróimidWe will develop | Ní fhorbróimidWe will not develop | An bhforbróimid?Will we develop? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Forbróidh sibhYou will develop | Ní fhorbróidh sibhYou will not develop | An bhforbróidh sibh?Will you develop? |
| siad (they) | Forbróidh siadThey will develop | Ní fhorbróidh siadThey will not develop | An bhforbróidh siad?Will they develop? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Forbrófar | Ní fhorbrófar | An bhforbrófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'fhorbróinnI would develop | Ní fhorbróinnI would not develop | An bhforbróinn?Would I develop? |
| tú (you) | D'fhorbrófáYou would develop | Ní fhorbrófáYou would not develop | An bhforbrófá?Would you develop? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'fhorbródh sé / síHe would develop | Ní fhorbródh sé / síHe would not develop | An bhforbródh sé / sí?Would he develop? |
| sinn (we) | D'fhorbróimisWe would develop | Ní fhorbróimisWe would not develop | An bhforbróimis?Would we develop? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'fhorbródh sibhYou would develop | Ní fhorbródh sibhYou would not develop | An bhforbródh sibh?Would you develop? |
| siad (they) | D'fhorbróidísThey would develop | Ní fhorbróidísThey would not develop | An bhforbróidís?Would they develop? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | D'fhorbrófaí | Ní fhorbrófaí | An bhforbrófaí? |
“Forbair” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
D'fhorbair siad an chathair go mór.
They developed the city greatly.
Forbraíonn páistí go tapa.
Children develop quickly.
Forbróidh an comhlacht táirge nua.
The company will develop a new product.
D'fhorbródh sé a scileanna dá mbeadh am aige.
He would develop his skills if he had time.
Níor fhorbair an plean mar a bhíothas ag súil.
The plan did not develop as expected.
Ar fhorbair tú an aip sin?
Did you develop that app?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To develop in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to develop?
The Irish for to develop is forbair (pronounced “FOR-uh-bir”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is forbairt.
What is the verbal noun of forbair?
The verbal noun of forbair is forbairt, used after ag for the continuous: ag forbairt (developing). The verbal adjective is forbartha.
How do you say forbair in the past and the future?
Past: D'fhorbair mé; negative Níor fhorbair mé; question Ar fhorbair mé?. Future: Forbróidh mé; negative Ní fhorbróidh mé; question An bhforbróidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of forbair?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is D'fhorbróinn (I would develop); negative Ní fhorbróinn; question An bhforbróinn?.
Does forbair have more than one meaning?
Yes. Forbair can mean to develop or to grow, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'forbair' and 'fás'?
'Fás' is simple natural growth, as in 'fásann an féar', while 'forbair' means to develop or build up, often deliberately, as in 'forbair gnó'.
