HeyRuaHow to say “to provoke” in Irish
- Irish:
- greannaigh
- English:
- to provoke, challenge, irritate
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- greannú (ag greannú, provoking)
- Verbal adjective:
- greannaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “GRAN-ee” /ɡɾˠanˠiː/
What does “greannaigh” mean?
“Greannaigh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to provoke
- To make someone angry or annoyed on purpose.Also: irritate, annoy, anger, ruffle.
2 other meanings: challenge or irritate
- 2to challenge
- To defy or taunt someone, daring them to act.Also: defy, taunt, beard.
- 3to irritate
- To make skin or a part of the body red and sore.Also: inflame, chafe.
“Greannaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Ghreannaigh méI provoked | Níor ghreannaigh méI did not provoke | Ar ghreannaigh mé?Did I provoke? |
| tú (you) | Ghreannaigh túYou provoked | Níor ghreannaigh túYou did not provoke | Ar ghreannaigh tú?Did you provoke? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ghreannaigh sé / síHe provoked | Níor ghreannaigh sé / síHe did not provoke | Ar ghreannaigh sé / sí?Did he provoke? |
| sinn (we) | GhreannaíomarWe provoked | Níor ghreannaíomarWe did not provoke | Ar ghreannaíomar?Did we provoke? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ghreannaigh sibhYou provoked | Níor ghreannaigh sibhYou did not provoke | Ar ghreannaigh sibh?Did you provoke? |
| siad (they) | Ghreannaigh siadThey provoked | Níor ghreannaigh siadThey did not provoke | Ar ghreannaigh siad?Did they provoke? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Greannaíodh | Níor greannaíodh | Ar greannaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | GreannaímI provoke | Ní ghreannaímI do not provoke | An ngreannaím?Do I provoke? |
| tú (you) | Greannaíonn túYou provoke | Ní ghreannaíonn túYou do not provoke | An ngreannaíonn tú?Do you provoke? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Greannaíonn sé / síHe provokes | Ní ghreannaíonn sé / síHe does not provoke | An ngreannaíonn sé / sí?Does he provoke? |
| sinn (we) | GreannaímidWe provoke | Ní ghreannaímidWe do not provoke | An ngreannaímid?Do we provoke? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Greannaíonn sibhYou provoke | Ní ghreannaíonn sibhYou do not provoke | An ngreannaíonn sibh?Do you provoke? |
| siad (they) | Greannaíonn siadThey provoke | Ní ghreannaíonn siadThey do not provoke | An ngreannaíonn siad?Do they provoke? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Greannaítear | Ní ghreannaítear | An ngreannaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Greannóidh méI will provoke | Ní ghreannóidh méI will not provoke | An ngreannóidh mé?Will I provoke? |
| tú (you) | Greannóidh túYou will provoke | Ní ghreannóidh túYou will not provoke | An ngreannóidh tú?Will you provoke? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Greannóidh sé / síHe will provoke | Ní ghreannóidh sé / síHe will not provoke | An ngreannóidh sé / sí?Will he provoke? |
| sinn (we) | GreannóimidWe will provoke | Ní ghreannóimidWe will not provoke | An ngreannóimid?Will we provoke? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Greannóidh sibhYou will provoke | Ní ghreannóidh sibhYou will not provoke | An ngreannóidh sibh?Will you provoke? |
| siad (they) | Greannóidh siadThey will provoke | Ní ghreannóidh siadThey will not provoke | An ngreannóidh siad?Will they provoke? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Greannófar | Ní ghreannófar | An ngreannófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | GhreannóinnI would provoke | Ní ghreannóinnI would not provoke | An ngreannóinn?Would I provoke? |
| tú (you) | GhreannófáYou would provoke | Ní ghreannófáYou would not provoke | An ngreannófá?Would you provoke? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ghreannódh sé / síHe would provoke | Ní ghreannódh sé / síHe would not provoke | An ngreannódh sé / sí?Would he provoke? |
| sinn (we) | GhreannóimisWe would provoke | Ní ghreannóimisWe would not provoke | An ngreannóimis?Would we provoke? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ghreannódh sibhYou would provoke | Ní ghreannódh sibhYou would not provoke | An ngreannódh sibh?Would you provoke? |
| siad (they) | GhreannóidísThey would provoke | Ní ghreannóidísThey would not provoke | An ngreannóidís?Would they provoke? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Ghreannófaí | Ní ghreannófaí | An ngreannófaí? |
“Greannaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Ghreannaigh an buachaill an madra lena mhaide.
The boy provoked the dog with his stick.
Greannaíonn a chuid cainte gach duine.
His talk irritates everyone.
Greannóidh an t-uachtar sin do chraiceann.
That cream will irritate your skin.
Ghreannódh sé naomh lena chuid ceisteanna.
He would provoke a saint with his questions.
Níor ghreannaigh mé í d'aon ghnó.
I didn't annoy her on purpose.
Ar ghreannaigh siad an tarbh?
Did they provoke the bull?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To provoke in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to provoke?
The Irish for to provoke is greannaigh (pronounced “GRAN-ee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is greannú.
What is the verbal noun of greannaigh?
The verbal noun of greannaigh is greannú, used after ag for the continuous: ag greannú (provoking). The verbal adjective is greannaithe.
How do you say greannaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Ghreannaigh mé; negative Níor ghreannaigh mé; question Ar ghreannaigh mé?. Future: Greannóidh mé; negative Ní ghreannóidh mé; question An ngreannóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of greannaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Ghreannóinn (I would provoke); negative Ní ghreannóinn; question An ngreannóinn?.
Does greannaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Greannaigh can mean to provoke, to challenge or to irritate, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Is 'greannaigh' related to 'greann' (fun)?
They look alike, but 'greannaigh' means to provoke or irritate, while 'greann' means fun or humour; 'greannmhar' means funny.
