HeyRuaHow to say “to greet” in Irish
- Irish:
- beannaigh
- English:
- to greet, bless
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- beannú (ag beannú, greeting)
- Verbal adjective:
- beannaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “BAN-ee” /bʲan̪ˠiː/
What does “beannaigh” mean?
“Beannaigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to greet
- To say hello to someone or salute them when you meet.Also: salute, say hello to, hail.
1 other meaning: bless
- 2to bless
- To ask God's favour on someone or something, or to make it holy.Also: hallow, consecrate, sanctify.
Other Irish verbs for to greet: fáiltigh (welcome)
“Beannaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Bheannaigh méI greeted | Níor bheannaigh méI did not greet | Ar bheannaigh mé?Did I greet? |
| tú (you) | Bheannaigh túYou greeted | Níor bheannaigh túYou did not greet | Ar bheannaigh tú?Did you greet? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bheannaigh sé / síHe greeted | Níor bheannaigh sé / síHe did not greet | Ar bheannaigh sé / sí?Did he greet? |
| sinn (we) | BheannaíomarWe greeted | Níor bheannaíomarWe did not greet | Ar bheannaíomar?Did we greet? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bheannaigh sibhYou greeted | Níor bheannaigh sibhYou did not greet | Ar bheannaigh sibh?Did you greet? |
| siad (they) | Bheannaigh siadThey greeted | Níor bheannaigh siadThey did not greet | Ar bheannaigh siad?Did they greet? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Beannaíodh | Níor beannaíodh | Ar beannaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | BeannaímI greet | Ní bheannaímI do not greet | An mbeannaím?Do I greet? |
| tú (you) | Beannaíonn túYou greet | Ní bheannaíonn túYou do not greet | An mbeannaíonn tú?Do you greet? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Beannaíonn sé / síHe greets | Ní bheannaíonn sé / síHe does not greet | An mbeannaíonn sé / sí?Does he greet? |
| sinn (we) | BeannaímidWe greet | Ní bheannaímidWe do not greet | An mbeannaímid?Do we greet? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Beannaíonn sibhYou greet | Ní bheannaíonn sibhYou do not greet | An mbeannaíonn sibh?Do you greet? |
| siad (they) | Beannaíonn siadThey greet | Ní bheannaíonn siadThey do not greet | An mbeannaíonn siad?Do they greet? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Beannaítear | Ní bheannaítear | An mbeannaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Beannóidh méI will greet | Ní bheannóidh méI will not greet | An mbeannóidh mé?Will I greet? |
| tú (you) | Beannóidh túYou will greet | Ní bheannóidh túYou will not greet | An mbeannóidh tú?Will you greet? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Beannóidh sé / síHe will greet | Ní bheannóidh sé / síHe will not greet | An mbeannóidh sé / sí?Will he greet? |
| sinn (we) | BeannóimidWe will greet | Ní bheannóimidWe will not greet | An mbeannóimid?Will we greet? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Beannóidh sibhYou will greet | Ní bheannóidh sibhYou will not greet | An mbeannóidh sibh?Will you greet? |
| siad (they) | Beannóidh siadThey will greet | Ní bheannóidh siadThey will not greet | An mbeannóidh siad?Will they greet? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Beannófar | Ní bheannófar | An mbeannófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | BheannóinnI would greet | Ní bheannóinnI would not greet | An mbeannóinn?Would I greet? |
| tú (you) | BheannófáYou would greet | Ní bheannófáYou would not greet | An mbeannófá?Would you greet? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bheannódh sé / síHe would greet | Ní bheannódh sé / síHe would not greet | An mbeannódh sé / sí?Would he greet? |
| sinn (we) | BheannóimisWe would greet | Ní bheannóimisWe would not greet | An mbeannóimis?Would we greet? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bheannódh sibhYou would greet | Ní bheannódh sibhYou would not greet | An mbeannódh sibh?Would you greet? |
| siad (they) | BheannóidísThey would greet | Ní bheannóidísThey would not greet | An mbeannóidís?Would they greet? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Bheannófaí | Ní bheannófaí | An mbeannófaí? |
“Beannaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To greet in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to greet?
The Irish for to greet is beannaigh (pronounced “BAN-ee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is beannú.
What is the verbal noun of beannaigh?
The verbal noun of beannaigh is beannú, used after ag for the continuous: ag beannú (greeting). The verbal adjective is beannaithe.
How do you say beannaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Bheannaigh mé; negative Níor bheannaigh mé; question Ar bheannaigh mé?. Future: Beannóidh mé; negative Ní bheannóidh mé; question An mbeannóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of beannaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Bheannóinn (I would greet); negative Ní bheannóinn; question An mbeannóinn?.
Does beannaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Beannaigh can mean to greet or to bless, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Which preposition is used with beannaigh when greeting someone?
Use 'do': 'Bheannaigh sé dom' means 'He greeted me'. Without a preposition, 'Bheannaigh an sagart iad' means 'The priest blessed them'.
Is beannaithe used as an adjective?
Yes, 'beannaithe' means 'blessed' or 'holy', as in 'uisce beannaithe' (holy water).
