HeyRuaHow to say “to improve” in Irish
- Irish:
- bisigh
- English:
- to improve, increase
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- bisiú (ag bisiú, improving)
- Verbal adjective:
- bisithe
- Pronunciation:
- “BISH-ee” /ˈbʲɪʃə/
What does “bisigh” mean?
“Bisigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to improve
- To get better or make something better, especially in health or condition.Also: get better, recover, increase.
1 other meaning: increase
- 2to increase
- To grow, multiply or yield more.Also: multiply, prosper.
Other Irish verbs for to improve: feabhsaigh (improve)
“Bisigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Bhisigh méI improved | Níor bhisigh méI did not improve | Ar bhisigh mé?Did I improve? |
| tú (you) | Bhisigh túYou improved | Níor bhisigh túYou did not improve | Ar bhisigh tú?Did you improve? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bhisigh sé / síHe improved | Níor bhisigh sé / síHe did not improve | Ar bhisigh sé / sí?Did he improve? |
| sinn (we) | BhisíomarWe improved | Níor bhisíomarWe did not improve | Ar bhisíomar?Did we improve? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bhisigh sibhYou improved | Níor bhisigh sibhYou did not improve | Ar bhisigh sibh?Did you improve? |
| siad (they) | Bhisigh siadThey improved | Níor bhisigh siadThey did not improve | Ar bhisigh siad?Did they improve? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Bisíodh | Níor bisíodh | Ar bisíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | BisímI improve | Ní bhisímI do not improve | An mbisím?Do I improve? |
| tú (you) | Bisíonn túYou improve | Ní bhisíonn túYou do not improve | An mbisíonn tú?Do you improve? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bisíonn sé / síHe improves | Ní bhisíonn sé / síHe does not improve | An mbisíonn sé / sí?Does he improve? |
| sinn (we) | BisímidWe improve | Ní bhisímidWe do not improve | An mbisímid?Do we improve? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bisíonn sibhYou improve | Ní bhisíonn sibhYou do not improve | An mbisíonn sibh?Do you improve? |
| siad (they) | Bisíonn siadThey improve | Ní bhisíonn siadThey do not improve | An mbisíonn siad?Do they improve? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Bisítear | Ní bhisítear | An mbisítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Biseoidh méI will improve | Ní bhiseoidh méI will not improve | An mbiseoidh mé?Will I improve? |
| tú (you) | Biseoidh túYou will improve | Ní bhiseoidh túYou will not improve | An mbiseoidh tú?Will you improve? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Biseoidh sé / síHe will improve | Ní bhiseoidh sé / síHe will not improve | An mbiseoidh sé / sí?Will he improve? |
| sinn (we) | BiseoimidWe will improve | Ní bhiseoimidWe will not improve | An mbiseoimid?Will we improve? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Biseoidh sibhYou will improve | Ní bhiseoidh sibhYou will not improve | An mbiseoidh sibh?Will you improve? |
| siad (they) | Biseoidh siadThey will improve | Ní bhiseoidh siadThey will not improve | An mbiseoidh siad?Will they improve? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Biseofar | Ní bhiseofar | An mbiseofar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | BhiseoinnI would improve | Ní bhiseoinnI would not improve | An mbiseoinn?Would I improve? |
| tú (you) | BhiseofáYou would improve | Ní bhiseofáYou would not improve | An mbiseofá?Would you improve? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bhiseodh sé / síHe would improve | Ní bhiseodh sé / síHe would not improve | An mbiseodh sé / sí?Would he improve? |
| sinn (we) | BhiseoimisWe would improve | Ní bhiseoimisWe would not improve | An mbiseoimis?Would we improve? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bhiseodh sibhYou would improve | Ní bhiseodh sibhYou would not improve | An mbiseodh sibh?Would you improve? |
| siad (they) | BhiseoidísThey would improve | Ní bhiseoidísThey would not improve | An mbiseoidís?Would they improve? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Bhiseofaí | Ní bhiseofaí | An mbiseofaí? |
“Bisigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Bhisigh an t-othar go mór inné.
The patient improved greatly yesterday.
Bisíonn an aimsir san earrach.
The weather improves in spring.
Biseoidh sé leis an aire cheart.
He will improve with the right care.
Bhiseodh do chuid Gaeilge dá labhrófá níos minice í.
Your Irish would improve if you spoke it more often.
Níor bhisigh a sláinte fós.
Her health hasn't improved yet.
Ar bhisigh do mháthair?
Did your mother get better?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To improve in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to improve?
The Irish for to improve is bisigh (pronounced “BISH-ee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is bisiú.
What is the verbal noun of bisigh?
The verbal noun of bisigh is bisiú, used after ag for the continuous: ag bisiú (improving). The verbal adjective is bisithe.
How do you say bisigh in the past and the future?
Past: Bhisigh mé; negative Níor bhisigh mé; question Ar bhisigh mé?. Future: Biseoidh mé; negative Ní bhiseoidh mé; question An mbiseoidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of bisigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Bhiseoinn (I would improve); negative Ní bhiseoinn; question An mbiseoinn?.
Does bisigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Bisigh can mean to improve or to increase, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'bisigh' and 'feabhsaigh'?
Both mean to improve, but 'feabhsaigh' is more common in everyday and formal use, while 'bisigh' is often used of recovering health, as in 'bhisigh sé'.
