HeyRuaHow to say “to read” in Irish
- Irish:
- léigh
- English:
- to read, lecture
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- léamh (ag léamh, reading)
- Verbal adjective:
- léite
- Pronunciation:
- “lay” /lʲeː/
What does “léigh” mean?
“Léigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to read
- To look at written words and understand them, silently or aloud.Also: read aloud, peruse.
1 other meaning: lecture
- 2to lecture
- To give a lecture or read a text to an audience, as in 'léigh léacht'.Also: give a lecture.
“Léigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Léigh méI read | Níor léigh méI did not read | Ar léigh mé?Did I read? |
| tú (you) | Léigh túYou read | Níor léigh túYou did not read | Ar léigh tú?Did you read? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Léigh sé / síHe read | Níor léigh sé / síHe did not read | Ar léigh sé / sí?Did he read? |
| sinn (we) | LéamarWe read | Níor léamarWe did not read | Ar léamar?Did we read? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Léigh sibhYou read | Níor léigh sibhYou did not read | Ar léigh sibh?Did you read? |
| siad (they) | Léigh siadThey read | Níor léigh siadThey did not read | Ar léigh siad?Did they read? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Léadh | Níor léadh | Ar léadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | LéimI read | Ní léimI do not read | An léim?Do I read? |
| tú (you) | Léann túYou read | Ní léann túYou do not read | An léann tú?Do you read? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Léann sé / síHe reads | Ní léann sé / síHe does not read | An léann sé / sí?Does he read? |
| sinn (we) | LéimidWe read | Ní léimidWe do not read | An léimid?Do we read? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Léann sibhYou read | Ní léann sibhYou do not read | An léann sibh?Do you read? |
| siad (they) | Léann siadThey read | Ní léann siadThey do not read | An léann siad?Do they read? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Léitear | Ní léitear | An léitear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Léifidh méI will read | Ní léifidh méI will not read | An léifidh mé?Will I read? |
| tú (you) | Léifidh túYou will read | Ní léifidh túYou will not read | An léifidh tú?Will you read? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Léifidh sé / síHe will read | Ní léifidh sé / síHe will not read | An léifidh sé / sí?Will he read? |
| sinn (we) | LéifimidWe will read | Ní léifimidWe will not read | An léifimid?Will we read? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Léifidh sibhYou will read | Ní léifidh sibhYou will not read | An léifidh sibh?Will you read? |
| siad (they) | Léifidh siadThey will read | Ní léifidh siadThey will not read | An léifidh siad?Will they read? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Léifear | Ní léifear | An léifear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | LéifinnI would read | Ní léifinnI would not read | An léifinn?Would I read? |
| tú (you) | LéifeáYou would read | Ní léifeáYou would not read | An léifeá?Would you read? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Léifeadh sé / síHe would read | Ní léifeadh sé / síHe would not read | An léifeadh sé / sí?Would he read? |
| sinn (we) | LéifimisWe would read | Ní léifimisWe would not read | An léifimis?Would we read? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Léifeadh sibhYou would read | Ní léifeadh sibhYou would not read | An léifeadh sibh?Would you read? |
| siad (they) | LéifidísThey would read | Ní léifidísThey would not read | An léifidís?Would they read? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Léifí | Ní léifí | An léifí? |
“Léigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To read in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to read?
The Irish for to read is léigh (pronounced “lay”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is léamh.
What is the verbal noun of léigh?
The verbal noun of léigh is léamh, used after ag for the continuous: ag léamh (reading). The verbal adjective is léite.
How do you say léigh in the past and the future?
Past: Léigh mé; negative Níor léigh mé; question Ar léigh mé?. Future: Léifidh mé; negative Ní léifidh mé; question An léifidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of léigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Léifinn (I would read); negative Ní léifinn; question An léifinn?.
Does léigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Léigh can mean to read or to lecture, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'I am reading' in Irish?
Use the verbal noun with 'ag': 'Tá mé ag léamh', and with an object 'Tá mé ag léamh leabhair' or 'leabhar a léamh'.
How do I say 'read aloud'?
Say 'léigh os ard', for example 'Léigh an dán os ard'.
