HeyRuaHow to say “to herd” in Irish
- Irish:
- aoirigh
- English:
- to herd, watch over
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- aoireacht (ag aoireacht, herding)
- Verbal adjective:
- aoirithe
- Pronunciation:
- “EE-ree” /ˈiːɾʲɪ/
What does “aoirigh” mean?
“Aoirigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to herd
- To look after and guide animals such as sheep or cattle as they graze.Also: shepherd, tend, mind, watch over.
1 other meaning: watch over
- 2to watch over
- To guard or keep watch over people or things, like a shepherd.Also: guard, keep watch, look after.
Other Irish verbs for to herd: iomáin (drive)
“Aoirigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'aoirigh méI herded | Níor aoirigh méI did not herd | Ar aoirigh mé?Did I herd? |
| tú (you) | D'aoirigh túYou herded | Níor aoirigh túYou did not herd | Ar aoirigh tú?Did you herd? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'aoirigh sé / síHe herded | Níor aoirigh sé / síHe did not herd | Ar aoirigh sé / sí?Did he herd? |
| sinn (we) | D'aoiríomarWe herded | Níor aoiríomarWe did not herd | Ar aoiríomar?Did we herd? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'aoirigh sibhYou herded | Níor aoirigh sibhYou did not herd | Ar aoirigh sibh?Did you herd? |
| siad (they) | D'aoirigh siadThey herded | Níor aoirigh siadThey did not herd | Ar aoirigh siad?Did they herd? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Aoiríodh | Níor aoiríodh | Ar aoiríodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | AoirímI herd | Ní aoirímI do not herd | An aoirím?Do I herd? |
| tú (you) | Aoiríonn túYou herd | Ní aoiríonn túYou do not herd | An aoiríonn tú?Do you herd? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Aoiríonn sé / síHe herds | Ní aoiríonn sé / síHe does not herd | An aoiríonn sé / sí?Does he herd? |
| sinn (we) | AoirímidWe herd | Ní aoirímidWe do not herd | An aoirímid?Do we herd? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Aoiríonn sibhYou herd | Ní aoiríonn sibhYou do not herd | An aoiríonn sibh?Do you herd? |
| siad (they) | Aoiríonn siadThey herd | Ní aoiríonn siadThey do not herd | An aoiríonn siad?Do they herd? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Aoirítear | Ní aoirítear | An aoirítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Aoireoidh méI will herd | Ní aoireoidh méI will not herd | An aoireoidh mé?Will I herd? |
| tú (you) | Aoireoidh túYou will herd | Ní aoireoidh túYou will not herd | An aoireoidh tú?Will you herd? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Aoireoidh sé / síHe will herd | Ní aoireoidh sé / síHe will not herd | An aoireoidh sé / sí?Will he herd? |
| sinn (we) | AoireoimidWe will herd | Ní aoireoimidWe will not herd | An aoireoimid?Will we herd? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Aoireoidh sibhYou will herd | Ní aoireoidh sibhYou will not herd | An aoireoidh sibh?Will you herd? |
| siad (they) | Aoireoidh siadThey will herd | Ní aoireoidh siadThey will not herd | An aoireoidh siad?Will they herd? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Aoireofar | Ní aoireofar | An aoireofar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'aoireoinnI would herd | Ní aoireoinnI would not herd | An aoireoinn?Would I herd? |
| tú (you) | D'aoireofáYou would herd | Ní aoireofáYou would not herd | An aoireofá?Would you herd? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'aoireodh sé / síHe would herd | Ní aoireodh sé / síHe would not herd | An aoireodh sé / sí?Would he herd? |
| sinn (we) | D'aoireoimisWe would herd | Ní aoireoimisWe would not herd | An aoireoimis?Would we herd? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'aoireodh sibhYou would herd | Ní aoireodh sibhYou would not herd | An aoireodh sibh?Would you herd? |
| siad (they) | D'aoireoidísThey would herd | Ní aoireoidísThey would not herd | An aoireoidís?Would they herd? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | D'aoireofaí | Ní aoireofaí | An aoireofaí? |
“Aoirigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
D'aoirigh sé na caoirigh ar an sliabh inné.
He herded the sheep on the mountain yesterday.
Aoiríonn mo dheartháir na ba gach samhradh.
My brother herds the cows every summer.
Aoireoidh mé an tréad amárach.
I will herd the flock tomorrow.
D'aoireodh sí na gabhair dá mbeadh am aici.
She would herd the goats if she had time.
Níor aoirigh siad na caoirigh go cúramach.
They didn't herd the sheep carefully.
Ar aoirigh tú na ba aréir?
Did you herd the cows last night?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To herd in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to herd?
The Irish for to herd is aoirigh (pronounced “EE-ree”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is aoireacht.
What is the verbal noun of aoirigh?
The verbal noun of aoirigh is aoireacht, used after ag for the continuous: ag aoireacht (herding). The verbal adjective is aoirithe.
How do you say aoirigh in the past and the future?
Past: D'aoirigh mé; negative Níor aoirigh mé; question Ar aoirigh mé?. Future: Aoireoidh mé; negative Ní aoireoidh mé; question An aoireoidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of aoirigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is D'aoireoinn (I would herd); negative Ní aoireoinn; question An aoireoinn?.
Does aoirigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Aoirigh can mean to herd or to watch over, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Is 'aoirigh' related to the word for shepherd?
Yes, it comes from 'aoire', a herder or shepherd, and the verbal noun 'aoireacht' means herding, as in 'ag aoireacht caorach'.
