HeyRuaHow to say “to escape” in Irish
- Irish:
- éalaigh
- English:
- to escape, steal away, elope
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- éalú (ag éalú, escaping)
- Verbal adjective:
- éalaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “AY-lee” /ˈeːl̪ˠə/
What does “éalaigh” mean?
“Éalaigh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to escape
- To get away from a place, a person or a danger, especially from captivity.Also: get away, break out, flee.
2 other meanings: steal away or elope
- 2to steal away
- To leave quietly or secretly without being noticed.Also: slip away, sneak off, slip off.
- 3to elope
- To run away secretly with a lover in order to marry.Also: run off with.
“Éalaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'éalaigh méI escaped | Níor éalaigh méI did not escape | Ar éalaigh mé?Did I escape? |
| tú (you) | D'éalaigh túYou escaped | Níor éalaigh túYou did not escape | Ar éalaigh tú?Did you escape? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'éalaigh sé / síHe escaped | Níor éalaigh sé / síHe did not escape | Ar éalaigh sé / sí?Did he escape? |
| sinn (we) | D'éalaíomarWe escaped | Níor éalaíomarWe did not escape | Ar éalaíomar?Did we escape? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'éalaigh sibhYou escaped | Níor éalaigh sibhYou did not escape | Ar éalaigh sibh?Did you escape? |
| siad (they) | D'éalaigh siadThey escaped | Níor éalaigh siadThey did not escape | Ar éalaigh siad?Did they escape? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Éalaíodh | Níor éalaíodh | Ar éalaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ÉalaímI escape | Ní éalaímI do not escape | An éalaím?Do I escape? |
| tú (you) | Éalaíonn túYou escape | Ní éalaíonn túYou do not escape | An éalaíonn tú?Do you escape? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Éalaíonn sé / síHe escapes | Ní éalaíonn sé / síHe does not escape | An éalaíonn sé / sí?Does he escape? |
| sinn (we) | ÉalaímidWe escape | Ní éalaímidWe do not escape | An éalaímid?Do we escape? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Éalaíonn sibhYou escape | Ní éalaíonn sibhYou do not escape | An éalaíonn sibh?Do you escape? |
| siad (they) | Éalaíonn siadThey escape | Ní éalaíonn siadThey do not escape | An éalaíonn siad?Do they escape? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Éalaítear | Ní éalaítear | An éalaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Éalóidh méI will escape | Ní éalóidh méI will not escape | An éalóidh mé?Will I escape? |
| tú (you) | Éalóidh túYou will escape | Ní éalóidh túYou will not escape | An éalóidh tú?Will you escape? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Éalóidh sé / síHe will escape | Ní éalóidh sé / síHe will not escape | An éalóidh sé / sí?Will he escape? |
| sinn (we) | ÉalóimidWe will escape | Ní éalóimidWe will not escape | An éalóimid?Will we escape? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Éalóidh sibhYou will escape | Ní éalóidh sibhYou will not escape | An éalóidh sibh?Will you escape? |
| siad (they) | Éalóidh siadThey will escape | Ní éalóidh siadThey will not escape | An éalóidh siad?Will they escape? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Éalófar | Ní éalófar | An éalófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'éalóinnI would escape | Ní éalóinnI would not escape | An éalóinn?Would I escape? |
| tú (you) | D'éalófáYou would escape | Ní éalófáYou would not escape | An éalófá?Would you escape? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'éalódh sé / síHe would escape | Ní éalódh sé / síHe would not escape | An éalódh sé / sí?Would he escape? |
| sinn (we) | D'éalóimisWe would escape | Ní éalóimisWe would not escape | An éalóimis?Would we escape? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'éalódh sibhYou would escape | Ní éalódh sibhYou would not escape | An éalódh sibh?Would you escape? |
| siad (they) | D'éalóidísThey would escape | Ní éalóidísThey would not escape | An éalóidís?Would they escape? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | D'éalófaí | Ní éalófaí | An éalófaí? |
“Éalaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
D'éalaigh an madra amach tríd an ngeata.
The dog escaped out through the gate.
Éalaíonn an cat amach gach oíche.
The cat slips out every night.
Éalóidh mé ón gcruinniú go luath.
I'll slip away from the meeting early.
D'éalóinn dá mbeadh an doras ar oscailt.
I would escape if the door were open.
Níor éalaigh aon duine as an bpríosún sin riamh.
Nobody ever escaped from that prison.
Ar éalaigh na príosúnaigh aréir?
Did the prisoners escape last night?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To escape in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to escape?
The Irish for to escape is éalaigh (pronounced “AY-lee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is éalú.
What is the verbal noun of éalaigh?
The verbal noun of éalaigh is éalú, used after ag for the continuous: ag éalú (escaping). The verbal adjective is éalaithe.
How do you say éalaigh in the past and the future?
Past: D'éalaigh mé; negative Níor éalaigh mé; question Ar éalaigh mé?. Future: Éalóidh mé; negative Ní éalóidh mé; question An éalóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of éalaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is D'éalóinn (I would escape); negative Ní éalóinn; question An éalóinn?.
Does éalaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Éalaigh can mean to escape, to steal away or to elope, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Which preposition does 'éalaigh' take?
Use 'ó' or 'as' for what you escape from: 'D'éalaigh sé as an bpríosún' or 'éalú ón gcontúirt'.
What is the difference between 'éalaigh' and 'teith'?
'Éalaigh' stresses getting free or slipping away, while 'teith' means to flee or run away in fear, as in 'theith siad ón namhaid'.
