HeyRuaHow to say “to listen” in Irish
- Irish:
- éist
- English:
- to listen, be quiet, hear
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- éisteacht (ag éisteacht, listening)
- Verbal adjective:
- éiste
- Pronunciation:
- “aysht” /eːʃtʲ/
What does “éist” mean?
“Éist” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to listen
- To pay attention to sounds or to what someone says; used with 'le'.Also: listen to, pay attention, hear.
2 other meanings: be quiet or hear
- 2to be quiet
- Used in the imperative 'éist' or 'éist do bhéal' to tell someone to stop talking.Also: shut up, hush.
- 3to hear
- To hear a case or a confession formally, as a judge or priest does.Also: hear a case, hear confession.
“Éist” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'éist méI listened | Níor éist méI did not listen | Ar éist mé?Did I listen? |
| tú (you) | D'éist túYou listened | Níor éist túYou did not listen | Ar éist tú?Did you listen? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'éist sé / síHe listened | Níor éist sé / síHe did not listen | Ar éist sé / sí?Did he listen? |
| sinn (we) | D'éisteamarWe listened | Níor éisteamarWe did not listen | Ar éisteamar?Did we listen? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'éist sibhYou listened | Níor éist sibhYou did not listen | Ar éist sibh?Did you listen? |
| siad (they) | D'éist siadThey listened | Níor éist siadThey did not listen | Ar éist siad?Did they listen? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Éisteadh | Níor éisteadh | Ar éisteadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ÉistimI listen | Ní éistimI do not listen | An éistim?Do I listen? |
| tú (you) | Éisteann túYou listen | Ní éisteann túYou do not listen | An éisteann tú?Do you listen? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Éisteann sé / síHe listens | Ní éisteann sé / síHe does not listen | An éisteann sé / sí?Does he listen? |
| sinn (we) | ÉistimidWe listen | Ní éistimidWe do not listen | An éistimid?Do we listen? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Éisteann sibhYou listen | Ní éisteann sibhYou do not listen | An éisteann sibh?Do you listen? |
| siad (they) | Éisteann siadThey listen | Ní éisteann siadThey do not listen | An éisteann siad?Do they listen? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Éistear | Ní éistear | An éistear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Éistfidh méI will listen | Ní éistfidh méI will not listen | An éistfidh mé?Will I listen? |
| tú (you) | Éistfidh túYou will listen | Ní éistfidh túYou will not listen | An éistfidh tú?Will you listen? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Éistfidh sé / síHe will listen | Ní éistfidh sé / síHe will not listen | An éistfidh sé / sí?Will he listen? |
| sinn (we) | ÉistfimidWe will listen | Ní éistfimidWe will not listen | An éistfimid?Will we listen? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Éistfidh sibhYou will listen | Ní éistfidh sibhYou will not listen | An éistfidh sibh?Will you listen? |
| siad (they) | Éistfidh siadThey will listen | Ní éistfidh siadThey will not listen | An éistfidh siad?Will they listen? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Éistfear | Ní éistfear | An éistfear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'éistfinnI would listen | Ní éistfinnI would not listen | An éistfinn?Would I listen? |
| tú (you) | D'éistfeáYou would listen | Ní éistfeáYou would not listen | An éistfeá?Would you listen? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'éistfeadh sé / síHe would listen | Ní éistfeadh sé / síHe would not listen | An éistfeadh sé / sí?Would he listen? |
| sinn (we) | D'éistfimisWe would listen | Ní éistfimisWe would not listen | An éistfimis?Would we listen? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'éistfeadh sibhYou would listen | Ní éistfeadh sibhYou would not listen | An éistfeadh sibh?Would you listen? |
| siad (they) | D'éistfidísThey would listen | Ní éistfidísThey would not listen | An éistfidís?Would they listen? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | D'éistfí | Ní éistfí | An éistfí? |
“Éist” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Phrases with éist: Éist! (listen), Éist! (listen)
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
Phrases with “éist”
To listen in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to listen?
The Irish for to listen is éist (pronounced “aysht”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is éisteacht.
What is the verbal noun of éist?
The verbal noun of éist is éisteacht, used after ag for the continuous: ag éisteacht (listening). The verbal adjective is éiste.
How do you say éist in the past and the future?
Past: D'éist mé; negative Níor éist mé; question Ar éist mé?. Future: Éistfidh mé; negative Ní éistfidh mé; question An éistfidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of éist?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is D'éistfinn (I would listen); negative Ní éistfinn; question An éistfinn?.
Does éist have more than one meaning?
Yes. Éist can mean to listen, to be quiet or to hear, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'éist' and 'clois'?
'Éist le' means to actively listen to something, as in 'Éistim le ceol', while 'clois' means simply to hear, as in 'Chuala mé torann'.
Which preposition does 'éist' take?
It takes 'le': 'éist liom' means listen to me, and 'ag éisteacht leis an raidió' means listening to the radio.
