HeyRuaHow to say “to dictate” in Irish
- Irish:
- deachtaigh
- English:
- to dictate, compose
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- deachtú (ag deachtú, dictating)
- Verbal adjective:
- deachtaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “DYAK-tee” /dʲaxt̪ˠiː/
What does “deachtaigh” mean?
“Deachtaigh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to dictate
- To say words aloud so that someone else can write them down.Also: read out for writing.
2 other meanings: compose
- 2to dictate
- To lay down or prescribe what must be done; to direct or instruct.Also: prescribe, direct, instruct.
- 3to compose
- To compose or write a text, especially a formal or literary one.Also: indite, write.
“Deachtaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Dheachtaigh méI dictated | Níor dheachtaigh méI did not dictate | Ar dheachtaigh mé?Did I dictate? |
| tú (you) | Dheachtaigh túYou dictated | Níor dheachtaigh túYou did not dictate | Ar dheachtaigh tú?Did you dictate? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Dheachtaigh sé / síHe dictated | Níor dheachtaigh sé / síHe did not dictate | Ar dheachtaigh sé / sí?Did he dictate? |
| sinn (we) | DheachtaíomarWe dictated | Níor dheachtaíomarWe did not dictate | Ar dheachtaíomar?Did we dictate? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Dheachtaigh sibhYou dictated | Níor dheachtaigh sibhYou did not dictate | Ar dheachtaigh sibh?Did you dictate? |
| siad (they) | Dheachtaigh siadThey dictated | Níor dheachtaigh siadThey did not dictate | Ar dheachtaigh siad?Did they dictate? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Deachtaíodh | Níor deachtaíodh | Ar deachtaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | DeachtaímI dictate | Ní dheachtaímI do not dictate | An ndeachtaím?Do I dictate? |
| tú (you) | Deachtaíonn túYou dictate | Ní dheachtaíonn túYou do not dictate | An ndeachtaíonn tú?Do you dictate? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Deachtaíonn sé / síHe dictates | Ní dheachtaíonn sé / síHe does not dictate | An ndeachtaíonn sé / sí?Does he dictate? |
| sinn (we) | DeachtaímidWe dictate | Ní dheachtaímidWe do not dictate | An ndeachtaímid?Do we dictate? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Deachtaíonn sibhYou dictate | Ní dheachtaíonn sibhYou do not dictate | An ndeachtaíonn sibh?Do you dictate? |
| siad (they) | Deachtaíonn siadThey dictate | Ní dheachtaíonn siadThey do not dictate | An ndeachtaíonn siad?Do they dictate? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Deachtaítear | Ní dheachtaítear | An ndeachtaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Deachtóidh méI will dictate | Ní dheachtóidh méI will not dictate | An ndeachtóidh mé?Will I dictate? |
| tú (you) | Deachtóidh túYou will dictate | Ní dheachtóidh túYou will not dictate | An ndeachtóidh tú?Will you dictate? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Deachtóidh sé / síHe will dictate | Ní dheachtóidh sé / síHe will not dictate | An ndeachtóidh sé / sí?Will he dictate? |
| sinn (we) | DeachtóimidWe will dictate | Ní dheachtóimidWe will not dictate | An ndeachtóimid?Will we dictate? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Deachtóidh sibhYou will dictate | Ní dheachtóidh sibhYou will not dictate | An ndeachtóidh sibh?Will you dictate? |
| siad (they) | Deachtóidh siadThey will dictate | Ní dheachtóidh siadThey will not dictate | An ndeachtóidh siad?Will they dictate? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Deachtófar | Ní dheachtófar | An ndeachtófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | DheachtóinnI would dictate | Ní dheachtóinnI would not dictate | An ndeachtóinn?Would I dictate? |
| tú (you) | DheachtófáYou would dictate | Ní dheachtófáYou would not dictate | An ndeachtófá?Would you dictate? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Dheachtódh sé / síHe would dictate | Ní dheachtódh sé / síHe would not dictate | An ndeachtódh sé / sí?Would he dictate? |
| sinn (we) | DheachtóimisWe would dictate | Ní dheachtóimisWe would not dictate | An ndeachtóimis?Would we dictate? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Dheachtódh sibhYou would dictate | Ní dheachtódh sibhYou would not dictate | An ndeachtódh sibh?Would you dictate? |
| siad (they) | DheachtóidísThey would dictate | Ní dheachtóidísThey would not dictate | An ndeachtóidís?Would they dictate? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Dheachtófaí | Ní dheachtófaí | An ndeachtófaí? |
“Deachtaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Dheachtaigh an múinteoir an scéal don rang.
The teacher dictated the story to the class.
Deachtaíonn sí a litreacha dá rúnaí.
She dictates her letters to her secretary.
Deachtóidh mé na nótaí daoibh amárach.
I will dictate the notes to you tomorrow.
Dheachtódh sé an litir dá mbeadh am aige.
He would dictate the letter if he had time.
Níor dheachtaigh sí ach cúpla líne.
She dictated only a few lines.
Ar dheachtaigh an bainisteoir an tuarascáil?
Did the manager dictate the report?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To dictate in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to dictate?
The Irish for to dictate is deachtaigh (pronounced “DYAK-tee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is deachtú.
What is the verbal noun of deachtaigh?
The verbal noun of deachtaigh is deachtú, used after ag for the continuous: ag deachtú (dictating). The verbal adjective is deachtaithe.
How do you say deachtaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Dheachtaigh mé; negative Níor dheachtaigh mé; question Ar dheachtaigh mé?. Future: Deachtóidh mé; negative Ní dheachtóidh mé; question An ndeachtóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of deachtaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Dheachtóinn (I would dictate); negative Ní dheachtóinn; question An ndeachtóinn?.
Does deachtaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Deachtaigh can mean to dictate or to compose, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'dictation' in Irish, as in a school exercise?
Use the verbal noun 'deachtú', for example 'Bhí deachtú againn ar scoil inniu', meaning we had dictation at school today.
