HeyRuaHow to say “to rust” in Irish
- Irish:
- meirgigh
- English:
- to rust, become irritable
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- meirgiú (ag meirgiú, rusting)
- Verbal adjective:
- meirgithe
- Pronunciation:
- “MER-ig-ee” /ˈmʲɛɾʲəɟiː/
What does “meirgigh” mean?
“Meirgigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to rust
- To become covered with rust, or to make metal rusty.Also: go rusty, corrode, become rusty.
1 other meaning: become irritable
- 2to become irritable
- Figuratively, to become peevish, crusty or irritable.Also: get crusty, grow peevish.
“Meirgigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Mheirgigh méI rusted | Níor mheirgigh méI did not rust | Ar mheirgigh mé?Did I rust? |
| tú (you) | Mheirgigh túYou rusted | Níor mheirgigh túYou did not rust | Ar mheirgigh tú?Did you rust? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mheirgigh sé / síHe rusted | Níor mheirgigh sé / síHe did not rust | Ar mheirgigh sé / sí?Did he rust? |
| sinn (we) | MheirgíomarWe rusted | Níor mheirgíomarWe did not rust | Ar mheirgíomar?Did we rust? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mheirgigh sibhYou rusted | Níor mheirgigh sibhYou did not rust | Ar mheirgigh sibh?Did you rust? |
| siad (they) | Mheirgigh siadThey rusted | Níor mheirgigh siadThey did not rust | Ar mheirgigh siad?Did they rust? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Meirgíodh | Níor meirgíodh | Ar meirgíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MeirgímI rust | Ní mheirgímI do not rust | An meirgím?Do I rust? |
| tú (you) | Meirgíonn túYou rust | Ní mheirgíonn túYou do not rust | An meirgíonn tú?Do you rust? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Meirgíonn sé / síHe rusts | Ní mheirgíonn sé / síHe does not rust | An meirgíonn sé / sí?Does he rust? |
| sinn (we) | MeirgímidWe rust | Ní mheirgímidWe do not rust | An meirgímid?Do we rust? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Meirgíonn sibhYou rust | Ní mheirgíonn sibhYou do not rust | An meirgíonn sibh?Do you rust? |
| siad (they) | Meirgíonn siadThey rust | Ní mheirgíonn siadThey do not rust | An meirgíonn siad?Do they rust? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Meirgítear | Ní mheirgítear | An meirgítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Meirgeoidh méI will rust | Ní mheirgeoidh méI will not rust | An meirgeoidh mé?Will I rust? |
| tú (you) | Meirgeoidh túYou will rust | Ní mheirgeoidh túYou will not rust | An meirgeoidh tú?Will you rust? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Meirgeoidh sé / síHe will rust | Ní mheirgeoidh sé / síHe will not rust | An meirgeoidh sé / sí?Will he rust? |
| sinn (we) | MeirgeoimidWe will rust | Ní mheirgeoimidWe will not rust | An meirgeoimid?Will we rust? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Meirgeoidh sibhYou will rust | Ní mheirgeoidh sibhYou will not rust | An meirgeoidh sibh?Will you rust? |
| siad (they) | Meirgeoidh siadThey will rust | Ní mheirgeoidh siadThey will not rust | An meirgeoidh siad?Will they rust? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Meirgeofar | Ní mheirgeofar | An meirgeofar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MheirgeoinnI would rust | Ní mheirgeoinnI would not rust | An meirgeoinn?Would I rust? |
| tú (you) | MheirgeofáYou would rust | Ní mheirgeofáYou would not rust | An meirgeofá?Would you rust? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mheirgeodh sé / síHe would rust | Ní mheirgeodh sé / síHe would not rust | An meirgeodh sé / sí?Would he rust? |
| sinn (we) | MheirgeoimisWe would rust | Ní mheirgeoimisWe would not rust | An meirgeoimis?Would we rust? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mheirgeodh sibhYou would rust | Ní mheirgeodh sibhYou would not rust | An meirgeodh sibh?Would you rust? |
| siad (they) | MheirgeoidísThey would rust | Ní mheirgeoidísThey would not rust | An meirgeoidís?Would they rust? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Mheirgeofaí | Ní mheirgeofaí | An meirgeofaí? |
“Meirgigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Mheirgigh an rothar a fágadh amuigh sa bháisteach.
The bike that was left out in the rain rusted.
Meirgíonn iarann go tapa cois farraige.
Iron rusts quickly by the sea.
Meirgeoidh na huirlisí mura dtriomaíonn tú iad.
The tools will rust if you don't dry them.
Mheirgeodh an geata gan phéint.
The gate would rust without paint.
Níor mheirgigh an chruach dhosmálta riamh.
The stainless steel never rusted.
Ar mheirgigh an carr thar an ngeimhreadh?
Did the car rust over the winter?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To rust in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to rust?
The Irish for to rust is meirgigh (pronounced “MER-ig-ee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is meirgiú.
What is the verbal noun of meirgigh?
The verbal noun of meirgigh is meirgiú, used after ag for the continuous: ag meirgiú (rusting). The verbal adjective is meirgithe.
How do you say meirgigh in the past and the future?
Past: Mheirgigh mé; negative Níor mheirgigh mé; question Ar mheirgigh mé?. Future: Meirgeoidh mé; negative Ní mheirgeoidh mé; question An meirgeoidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of meirgigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Mheirgeoinn (I would rust); negative Ní mheirgeoinn; question An meirgeoinn?.
Does meirgigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Meirgigh can mean to rust or to become irritable, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the Irish noun for rust?
The noun is "meirg", and something rusty is "meirgeach" or "meirgithe", as in "tairne meirgithe" (a rusty nail).
