HeyRuaHow to say “to go” in Irish
- Irish:
- téigh
- English:
- to go, become, go into
- Word type:
- verb, irregular
- Verbal noun:
- dul (ag dul, going)
- Verbal adjective:
- dulta
- Pronunciation:
- “tchay” /tʲeːɟ/
What does “téigh” mean?
“Téigh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to go
- To move from one place to another, or to travel somewhere.Also: travel, leave, head.
2 other meanings: become or go into
- 2to become
- Used with 'i' to mean turning into or becoming something (téigh i bhfeabhas: improve).Also: get, turn.
- 3to go into
- Used with 'isteach' or 'i' to mean entering a place.Also: enter, go in.
Other Irish verbs for to go: gluais (move)
“Téigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Irregular verb. Téigh is one of the eleven irregular verbs in Irish, so its forms do not follow the regular pattern. After ní, an and go, the past uses the stem deachaigh: ní dheachaigh mé and an ndeachaigh mé?
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Chuaigh méI went | Ní dheachaigh méI did not go | An ndeachaigh mé?Did I go? |
| tú (you) | Chuaigh túYou went | Ní dheachaigh túYou did not go | An ndeachaigh tú?Did you go? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chuaigh sé / síHe went | Ní dheachaigh sé / síHe did not go | An ndeachaigh sé / sí?Did he go? |
| sinn (we) | ChuamarWe went | Ní dheachamarWe did not go | An ndeachamar?Did we go? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chuaigh sibhYou went | Ní dheachaigh sibhYou did not go | An ndeachaigh sibh?Did you go? |
| siad (they) | Chuaigh siadThey went | Ní dheachaigh siadThey did not go | An ndeachaigh siad?Did they go? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Chuathas | Ní dheachthas | An ndeachthas? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | TéimI go | Ní théimI do not go | An dtéim?Do I go? |
| tú (you) | Téann túYou go | Ní théann túYou do not go | An dtéann tú?Do you go? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Téann sé / síHe goes | Ní théann sé / síHe does not go | An dtéann sé / sí?Does he go? |
| sinn (we) | TéimidWe go | Ní théimidWe do not go | An dtéimid?Do we go? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Téann sibhYou go | Ní théann sibhYou do not go | An dtéann sibh?Do you go? |
| siad (they) | Téann siadThey go | Ní théann siadThey do not go | An dtéann siad?Do they go? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Téitear | Ní théitear | An dtéitear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Rachaidh méI will go | Ní rachaidh méI will not go | An rachaidh mé?Will I go? |
| tú (you) | Rachaidh túYou will go | Ní rachaidh túYou will not go | An rachaidh tú?Will you go? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Rachaidh sé / síHe will go | Ní rachaidh sé / síHe will not go | An rachaidh sé / sí?Will he go? |
| sinn (we) | RachaimidWe will go | Ní rachaimidWe will not go | An rachaimid?Will we go? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Rachaidh sibhYou will go | Ní rachaidh sibhYou will not go | An rachaidh sibh?Will you go? |
| siad (they) | Rachaidh siadThey will go | Ní rachaidh siadThey will not go | An rachaidh siad?Will they go? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Rachfar | Ní rachfar | An rachfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | RachainnI would go | Ní rachainnI would not go | An rachainn?Would I go? |
| tú (you) | RachfáYou would go | Ní rachfáYou would not go | An rachfá?Would you go? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Rachadh sé / síHe would go | Ní rachadh sé / síHe would not go | An rachadh sé / sí?Would he go? |
| sinn (we) | RachaimisWe would go | Ní rachaimisWe would not go | An rachaimis?Would we go? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Rachadh sibhYou would go | Ní rachadh sibhYou would not go | An rachadh sibh?Would you go? |
| siad (they) | RachaidísThey would go | Ní rachaidísThey would not go | An rachaidís?Would they go? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Rachfaí | Ní rachfaí | An rachfaí? |
“Téigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Phrases with téigh: Conas a théann tú go dtí ...? (how do I get to)
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
Phrases with “téigh”
To go in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to go?
The Irish for to go is téigh (pronounced “tchay”). It is an irregular verb; the verbal noun is dul.
What is the verbal noun of téigh?
The verbal noun of téigh is dul, used after ag for the continuous: ag dul (going). The verbal adjective is dulta.
How do you say téigh in the past and the future?
Past: Chuaigh mé; negative Ní dheachaigh mé; question An ndeachaigh mé?. Future: Rachaidh mé; negative Ní rachaidh mé; question An rachaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of téigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Rachainn (I would go); negative Ní rachainn; question An rachainn?.
Is téigh an irregular verb?
Téigh is one of the eleven irregular verbs in Irish, so its forms do not follow the regular pattern. After ní, an and go, the past uses the stem deachaigh: ní dheachaigh mé and an ndeachaigh mé? The tables above give every form.
Does téigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Téigh can mean to go, to become or to go into, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'téigh' and 'imigh'?
'Téigh' means to go somewhere, usually with a destination (téigh abhaile), while 'imigh' means to go away or leave (imigh leat).
Why does 'téigh' have the form 'ndeachaigh' after 'an' and 'ní'?
In the past tense the dependent form is 'deachaigh', so you say 'ní dheachaigh mé' and 'an ndeachaigh tú?' rather than 'chuaigh'.
