HeyRuaHow to say “to return” in Irish
- Irish:
- fill
- English:
- to return, fold
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- filleadh (ag filleadh, returning)
- Verbal adjective:
- fillte
- Pronunciation:
- “fill” /fʲiːlʲ/
What does “fill” mean?
“Fill” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to return
- To come or go back to a place, person or activity.Also: come back, go back, turn back.
1 other meaning: fold
- 2to fold
- To bend something such as paper or cloth so that one part lies over another.Also: bend, wrap, roll up.
“Fill” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'fhill méI returned | Níor fhill méI did not return | Ar fhill mé?Did I return? |
| tú (you) | D'fhill túYou returned | Níor fhill túYou did not return | Ar fhill tú?Did you return? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'fhill sé / síHe returned | Níor fhill sé / síHe did not return | Ar fhill sé / sí?Did he return? |
| sinn (we) | D'fhilleamarWe returned | Níor fhilleamarWe did not return | Ar fhilleamar?Did we return? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'fhill sibhYou returned | Níor fhill sibhYou did not return | Ar fhill sibh?Did you return? |
| siad (they) | D'fhill siadThey returned | Níor fhill siadThey did not return | Ar fhill siad?Did they return? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Filleadh | Níor filleadh | Ar filleadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | FillimI return | Ní fhillimI do not return | An bhfillim?Do I return? |
| tú (you) | Filleann túYou return | Ní fhilleann túYou do not return | An bhfilleann tú?Do you return? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Filleann sé / síHe returns | Ní fhilleann sé / síHe does not return | An bhfilleann sé / sí?Does he return? |
| sinn (we) | FillimidWe return | Ní fhillimidWe do not return | An bhfillimid?Do we return? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Filleann sibhYou return | Ní fhilleann sibhYou do not return | An bhfilleann sibh?Do you return? |
| siad (they) | Filleann siadThey return | Ní fhilleann siadThey do not return | An bhfilleann siad?Do they return? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Filltear | Ní fhilltear | An bhfilltear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Fillfidh méI will return | Ní fhillfidh méI will not return | An bhfillfidh mé?Will I return? |
| tú (you) | Fillfidh túYou will return | Ní fhillfidh túYou will not return | An bhfillfidh tú?Will you return? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Fillfidh sé / síHe will return | Ní fhillfidh sé / síHe will not return | An bhfillfidh sé / sí?Will he return? |
| sinn (we) | FillfimidWe will return | Ní fhillfimidWe will not return | An bhfillfimid?Will we return? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Fillfidh sibhYou will return | Ní fhillfidh sibhYou will not return | An bhfillfidh sibh?Will you return? |
| siad (they) | Fillfidh siadThey will return | Ní fhillfidh siadThey will not return | An bhfillfidh siad?Will they return? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Fillfear | Ní fhillfear | An bhfillfear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'fhillfinnI would return | Ní fhillfinnI would not return | An bhfillfinn?Would I return? |
| tú (you) | D'fhillfeáYou would return | Ní fhillfeáYou would not return | An bhfillfeá?Would you return? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'fhillfeadh sé / síHe would return | Ní fhillfeadh sé / síHe would not return | An bhfillfeadh sé / sí?Would he return? |
| sinn (we) | D'fhillfimisWe would return | Ní fhillfimisWe would not return | An bhfillfimis?Would we return? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'fhillfeadh sibhYou would return | Ní fhillfeadh sibhYou would not return | An bhfillfeadh sibh?Would you return? |
| siad (they) | D'fhillfidísThey would return | Ní fhillfidísThey would not return | An bhfillfidís?Would they return? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | D'fhillfí | Ní fhillfí | An bhfillfí? |
“Fill” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
D'fhill sé ar Éirinn um Nollaig.
He returned to Ireland around Christmas.
Filleann sí abhaile gach Aoine.
She comes home every Friday.
Fillfidh mé ar an obair amárach.
I will go back to work tomorrow.
D'fhillfinn ar an ollscoil dá mbeadh an t-airgead agam.
I would return to university if I had the money.
Níor fhill siad riamh ar an mbaile.
They never returned to the town.
Ar fhill tú na héadaí?
Did you fold the clothes?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To return in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to return?
The Irish for to return is fill (pronounced “fill”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is filleadh.
What is the verbal noun of fill?
The verbal noun of fill is filleadh, used after ag for the continuous: ag filleadh (returning). The verbal adjective is fillte.
How do you say fill in the past and the future?
Past: D'fhill mé; negative Níor fhill mé; question Ar fhill mé?. Future: Fillfidh mé; negative Ní fhillfidh mé; question An bhfillfidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of fill?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is D'fhillfinn (I would return); negative Ní fhillfinn; question An bhfillfinn?.
Does fill have more than one meaning?
Yes. Fill can mean to return or to fold, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Which preposition does 'fill' take when it means return to a place?
It takes 'ar': 'd'fhill sé ar Éirinn' means he returned to Ireland. For returning home, say 'fill abhaile'.
How is 'fill' different from 'tar ar ais'?
Both mean come back, but 'fill' is a single verb and slightly more formal, while 'tar ar ais' is very common in everyday speech.
