HeyRuaHow to say “to rule” in Irish
- Irish:
- rialaigh
- English:
- to rule, regulate
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- rialú (ag rialú, ruling)
- Verbal adjective:
- rialaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “REE-uh-lee” /ˈɾʲiəl̪ˠiː/
What does “rialaigh” mean?
“Rialaigh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to rule
- To govern or control a country, people or organisation.Also: govern, control, reign.
2 other meanings: regulate
- 2to regulate
- To control something by rules or adjust it so it works properly.Also: control, adjust.
- 3to rule
- To make an official decision, especially in a court.Also: decide, give a ruling.
“Rialaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Rialaigh méI ruled | Níor rialaigh méI did not rule | Ar rialaigh mé?Did I rule? |
| tú (you) | Rialaigh túYou ruled | Níor rialaigh túYou did not rule | Ar rialaigh tú?Did you rule? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Rialaigh sé / síHe ruled | Níor rialaigh sé / síHe did not rule | Ar rialaigh sé / sí?Did he rule? |
| sinn (we) | RialaíomarWe ruled | Níor rialaíomarWe did not rule | Ar rialaíomar?Did we rule? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Rialaigh sibhYou ruled | Níor rialaigh sibhYou did not rule | Ar rialaigh sibh?Did you rule? |
| siad (they) | Rialaigh siadThey ruled | Níor rialaigh siadThey did not rule | Ar rialaigh siad?Did they rule? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Rialaíodh | Níor rialaíodh | Ar rialaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | RialaímI rule | Ní rialaímI do not rule | An rialaím?Do I rule? |
| tú (you) | Rialaíonn túYou rule | Ní rialaíonn túYou do not rule | An rialaíonn tú?Do you rule? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Rialaíonn sé / síHe rules | Ní rialaíonn sé / síHe does not rule | An rialaíonn sé / sí?Does he rule? |
| sinn (we) | RialaímidWe rule | Ní rialaímidWe do not rule | An rialaímid?Do we rule? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Rialaíonn sibhYou rule | Ní rialaíonn sibhYou do not rule | An rialaíonn sibh?Do you rule? |
| siad (they) | Rialaíonn siadThey rule | Ní rialaíonn siadThey do not rule | An rialaíonn siad?Do they rule? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Rialaítear | Ní rialaítear | An rialaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Rialóidh méI will rule | Ní rialóidh méI will not rule | An rialóidh mé?Will I rule? |
| tú (you) | Rialóidh túYou will rule | Ní rialóidh túYou will not rule | An rialóidh tú?Will you rule? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Rialóidh sé / síHe will rule | Ní rialóidh sé / síHe will not rule | An rialóidh sé / sí?Will he rule? |
| sinn (we) | RialóimidWe will rule | Ní rialóimidWe will not rule | An rialóimid?Will we rule? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Rialóidh sibhYou will rule | Ní rialóidh sibhYou will not rule | An rialóidh sibh?Will you rule? |
| siad (they) | Rialóidh siadThey will rule | Ní rialóidh siadThey will not rule | An rialóidh siad?Will they rule? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Rialófar | Ní rialófar | An rialófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | RialóinnI would rule | Ní rialóinnI would not rule | An rialóinn?Would I rule? |
| tú (you) | RialófáYou would rule | Ní rialófáYou would not rule | An rialófá?Would you rule? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Rialódh sé / síHe would rule | Ní rialódh sé / síHe would not rule | An rialódh sé / sí?Would he rule? |
| sinn (we) | RialóimisWe would rule | Ní rialóimisWe would not rule | An rialóimis?Would we rule? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Rialódh sibhYou would rule | Ní rialódh sibhYou would not rule | An rialódh sibh?Would you rule? |
| siad (they) | RialóidísThey would rule | Ní rialóidísThey would not rule | An rialóidís?Would they rule? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Rialófaí | Ní rialófaí | An rialófaí? |
“Rialaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Rialaigh an rí an tír ar feadh tríocha bliain.
The king ruled the country for thirty years.
Rialaíonn an teirmeastat teocht an tí.
The thermostat regulates the temperature of the house.
Rialóidh an chúirt ar an gcás amárach.
The court will rule on the case tomorrow.
Rialódh sí an comhlacht go maith.
She would run the company well.
Níor rialaigh an breitheamh ina choinne.
The judge did not rule against him.
Ar rialaigh an rialtas sin an tír go cothrom?
Did that government rule the country fairly?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To rule in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to rule?
The Irish for to rule is rialaigh (pronounced “REE-uh-lee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is rialú.
What is the verbal noun of rialaigh?
The verbal noun of rialaigh is rialú, used after ag for the continuous: ag rialú (ruling). The verbal adjective is rialaithe.
How do you say rialaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Rialaigh mé; negative Níor rialaigh mé; question Ar rialaigh mé?. Future: Rialóidh mé; negative Ní rialóidh mé; question An rialóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of rialaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Rialóinn (I would rule); negative Ní rialóinn; question An rialóinn?.
Does rialaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Rialaigh can mean to rule or to regulate, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do you say 'rule on a case' with 'rialaigh'?
Use the preposition 'ar': 'rialaigh an chúirt ar an gcás', the court ruled on the case.
