HeyRuaHow to say “to kill” in Irish
- Irish:
- maraigh
- English:
- to kill, exhaust
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- marú (ag marú, killing)
- Verbal adjective:
- maraithe
- Pronunciation:
- “MAR-ee” /ˈmˠaɾˠiː/
What does “maraigh” mean?
“Maraigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to kill
- To cause the death of a person or animal.Also: slay, murder, slaughter.
1 other meaning: exhaust
- 2to exhaust
- To tire someone out completely, as in 'it's killing me'.Also: wear out, tire out, kill.
“Maraigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Mharaigh méI killed | Níor mharaigh méI did not kill | Ar mharaigh mé?Did I kill? |
| tú (you) | Mharaigh túYou killed | Níor mharaigh túYou did not kill | Ar mharaigh tú?Did you kill? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mharaigh sé / síHe killed | Níor mharaigh sé / síHe did not kill | Ar mharaigh sé / sí?Did he kill? |
| sinn (we) | MharaíomarWe killed | Níor mharaíomarWe did not kill | Ar mharaíomar?Did we kill? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mharaigh sibhYou killed | Níor mharaigh sibhYou did not kill | Ar mharaigh sibh?Did you kill? |
| siad (they) | Mharaigh siadThey killed | Níor mharaigh siadThey did not kill | Ar mharaigh siad?Did they kill? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Maraíodh | Níor maraíodh | Ar maraíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MaraímI kill | Ní mharaímI do not kill | An maraím?Do I kill? |
| tú (you) | Maraíonn túYou kill | Ní mharaíonn túYou do not kill | An maraíonn tú?Do you kill? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Maraíonn sé / síHe kills | Ní mharaíonn sé / síHe does not kill | An maraíonn sé / sí?Does he kill? |
| sinn (we) | MaraímidWe kill | Ní mharaímidWe do not kill | An maraímid?Do we kill? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Maraíonn sibhYou kill | Ní mharaíonn sibhYou do not kill | An maraíonn sibh?Do you kill? |
| siad (they) | Maraíonn siadThey kill | Ní mharaíonn siadThey do not kill | An maraíonn siad?Do they kill? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Maraítear | Ní mharaítear | An maraítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Maróidh méI will kill | Ní mharóidh méI will not kill | An maróidh mé?Will I kill? |
| tú (you) | Maróidh túYou will kill | Ní mharóidh túYou will not kill | An maróidh tú?Will you kill? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Maróidh sé / síHe will kill | Ní mharóidh sé / síHe will not kill | An maróidh sé / sí?Will he kill? |
| sinn (we) | MaróimidWe will kill | Ní mharóimidWe will not kill | An maróimid?Will we kill? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Maróidh sibhYou will kill | Ní mharóidh sibhYou will not kill | An maróidh sibh?Will you kill? |
| siad (they) | Maróidh siadThey will kill | Ní mharóidh siadThey will not kill | An maróidh siad?Will they kill? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Marófar | Ní mharófar | An marófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MharóinnI would kill | Ní mharóinnI would not kill | An maróinn?Would I kill? |
| tú (you) | MharófáYou would kill | Ní mharófáYou would not kill | An marófá?Would you kill? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mharódh sé / síHe would kill | Ní mharódh sé / síHe would not kill | An maródh sé / sí?Would he kill? |
| sinn (we) | MharóimisWe would kill | Ní mharóimisWe would not kill | An maróimis?Would we kill? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mharódh sibhYou would kill | Ní mharódh sibhYou would not kill | An maródh sibh?Would you kill? |
| siad (they) | MharóidísThey would kill | Ní mharóidísThey would not kill | An maróidís?Would they kill? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Mharófaí | Ní mharófaí | An marófaí? |
“Maraigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Mharaigh an cat luch sa chistin aréir.
The cat killed a mouse in the kitchen last night.
Maraíonn an siocán na bláthanna gach geimhreadh.
The frost kills the flowers every winter.
Maróidh an obair sin thú.
That work will kill you.
Ní mharódh sé cuileog fiú.
He wouldn't even kill a fly.
Níor mharaigh siad an mhuc fós.
They haven't killed the pig yet.
Ar maraíodh aon duine sa timpiste?
Was anyone killed in the accident?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To kill in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to kill?
The Irish for to kill is maraigh (pronounced “MAR-ee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is marú.
What is the verbal noun of maraigh?
The verbal noun of maraigh is marú, used after ag for the continuous: ag marú (killing). The verbal adjective is maraithe.
How do you say maraigh in the past and the future?
Past: Mharaigh mé; negative Níor mharaigh mé; question Ar mharaigh mé?. Future: Maróidh mé; negative Ní mharóidh mé; question An maróidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of maraigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Mharóinn (I would kill); negative Ní mharóinn; question An maróinn?.
Does maraigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Maraigh can mean to kill or to exhaust, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'maraigh' and 'dúnmharaigh'?
'Maraigh' is the general word for kill, while 'dúnmharaigh' specifically means to murder.
How do I say 'he was killed'?
Use the autonomous form: 'Maraíodh é', literally 'one killed him'.
