HeyRuaHow to say “to live” in Irish
- Irish:
- mair
- English:
- to live, last, survive
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- maireachtáil (ag maireachtáil, living)
- Verbal adjective:
- martha
- Pronunciation:
- “mar” /mˠaɾʲ/
What does “mair” mean?
“Mair” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to live
- To be alive or to spend your life in a certain way or time.Also: be alive, exist, live on.
2 other meanings: last or survive
- 2to last
- To continue for a period of time or keep going.Also: endure, continue, hold out.
- 3to survive
- To stay alive or remain in existence after something.Also: remain, outlive.
Other Irish verbs for to live: cónaigh (live)
“Mair” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Mhair méI lived | Níor mhair méI did not live | Ar mhair mé?Did I live? |
| tú (you) | Mhair túYou lived | Níor mhair túYou did not live | Ar mhair tú?Did you live? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mhair sé / síHe lived | Níor mhair sé / síHe did not live | Ar mhair sé / sí?Did he live? |
| sinn (we) | MhaireamarWe lived | Níor mhaireamarWe did not live | Ar mhaireamar?Did we live? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mhair sibhYou lived | Níor mhair sibhYou did not live | Ar mhair sibh?Did you live? |
| siad (they) | Mhair siadThey lived | Níor mhair siadThey did not live | Ar mhair siad?Did they live? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Maireadh | Níor maireadh | Ar maireadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MairimI live | Ní mhairimI do not live | An mairim?Do I live? |
| tú (you) | Maireann túYou live | Ní mhaireann túYou do not live | An maireann tú?Do you live? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Maireann sé / síHe lives | Ní mhaireann sé / síHe does not live | An maireann sé / sí?Does he live? |
| sinn (we) | MairimidWe live | Ní mhairimidWe do not live | An mairimid?Do we live? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Maireann sibhYou live | Ní mhaireann sibhYou do not live | An maireann sibh?Do you live? |
| siad (they) | Maireann siadThey live | Ní mhaireann siadThey do not live | An maireann siad?Do they live? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Mairtear | Ní mhairtear | An mairtear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Mairfidh méI will live | Ní mhairfidh méI will not live | An mairfidh mé?Will I live? |
| tú (you) | Mairfidh túYou will live | Ní mhairfidh túYou will not live | An mairfidh tú?Will you live? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mairfidh sé / síHe will live | Ní mhairfidh sé / síHe will not live | An mairfidh sé / sí?Will he live? |
| sinn (we) | MairfimidWe will live | Ní mhairfimidWe will not live | An mairfimid?Will we live? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mairfidh sibhYou will live | Ní mhairfidh sibhYou will not live | An mairfidh sibh?Will you live? |
| siad (they) | Mairfidh siadThey will live | Ní mhairfidh siadThey will not live | An mairfidh siad?Will they live? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Mairfear | Ní mhairfear | An mairfear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MhairfinnI would live | Ní mhairfinnI would not live | An mairfinn?Would I live? |
| tú (you) | MhairfeáYou would live | Ní mhairfeáYou would not live | An mairfeá?Would you live? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mhairfeadh sé / síHe would live | Ní mhairfeadh sé / síHe would not live | An mairfeadh sé / sí?Would he live? |
| sinn (we) | MhairfimisWe would live | Ní mhairfimisWe would not live | An mairfimis?Would we live? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mhairfeadh sibhYou would live | Ní mhairfeadh sibhYou would not live | An mairfeadh sibh?Would you live? |
| siad (they) | MhairfidísThey would live | Ní mhairfidísThey would not live | An mairfidís?Would they live? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Mhairfí | Ní mhairfí | An mairfí? |
“Mair” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Phrases with mair: Go maire tú an céad (many happy returns), Go maire tú do shaol nua (congratulations on your wedding), Go maire tú do theach nua (blessing on a new home)
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
Phrases with “mair”
To live in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to live?
The Irish for to live is mair (pronounced “mar”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is maireachtáil.
What is the verbal noun of mair?
The verbal noun of mair is maireachtáil, used after ag for the continuous: ag maireachtáil (living). The verbal adjective is martha.
How do you say mair in the past and the future?
Past: Mhair mé; negative Níor mhair mé; question Ar mhair mé?. Future: Mairfidh mé; negative Ní mhairfidh mé; question An mairfidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of mair?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Mhairfinn (I would live); negative Ní mhairfinn; question An mairfinn?.
Does mair have more than one meaning?
Yes. Mair can mean to live, to last or to survive, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'mair' and 'cónaigh'?
'Cónaigh' means to live in a place (reside), as in 'Cónaím i gCorcaigh', while 'mair' means to be alive or to last, as in 'Mhair sé go nócha'.
How do I say 'live on' something?
Use 'mair ar': 'Tá siad ag maireachtáil ar iasc agus glasraí' means they live on fish and vegetables.
