HeyRuaHow to say “to sacrifice” in Irish
- Irish:
- íobair
- English:
- to sacrifice
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- íobairt (ag íobairt, sacrificing)
- Verbal adjective:
- íobartha
- Pronunciation:
- “EE-bir” /iːbˠəɾʲ/
What does “íobair” mean?
- to sacrifice
- To offer something up, especially to God or a god, or to give up something valuable for a greater cause.Also: offer up, immolate, give up.
“Íobair” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'íobair méI sacrificed | Níor íobair méI did not sacrifice | Ar íobair mé?Did I sacrifice? |
| tú (you) | D'íobair túYou sacrificed | Níor íobair túYou did not sacrifice | Ar íobair tú?Did you sacrifice? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'íobair sé / síHe sacrificed | Níor íobair sé / síHe did not sacrifice | Ar íobair sé / sí?Did he sacrifice? |
| sinn (we) | D'íobraíomarWe sacrificed | Níor íobraíomarWe did not sacrifice | Ar íobraíomar?Did we sacrifice? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'íobair sibhYou sacrificed | Níor íobair sibhYou did not sacrifice | Ar íobair sibh?Did you sacrifice? |
| siad (they) | D'íobair siadThey sacrificed | Níor íobair siadThey did not sacrifice | Ar íobair siad?Did they sacrifice? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Íobraíodh | Níor íobraíodh | Ar íobraíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ÍobraímI sacrifice | Ní íobraímI do not sacrifice | An íobraím?Do I sacrifice? |
| tú (you) | Íobraíonn túYou sacrifice | Ní íobraíonn túYou do not sacrifice | An íobraíonn tú?Do you sacrifice? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Íobraíonn sé / síHe sacrifices | Ní íobraíonn sé / síHe does not sacrifice | An íobraíonn sé / sí?Does he sacrifice? |
| sinn (we) | ÍobraímidWe sacrifice | Ní íobraímidWe do not sacrifice | An íobraímid?Do we sacrifice? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Íobraíonn sibhYou sacrifice | Ní íobraíonn sibhYou do not sacrifice | An íobraíonn sibh?Do you sacrifice? |
| siad (they) | Íobraíonn siadThey sacrifice | Ní íobraíonn siadThey do not sacrifice | An íobraíonn siad?Do they sacrifice? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Íobraítear | Ní íobraítear | An íobraítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Íobróidh méI will sacrifice | Ní íobróidh méI will not sacrifice | An íobróidh mé?Will I sacrifice? |
| tú (you) | Íobróidh túYou will sacrifice | Ní íobróidh túYou will not sacrifice | An íobróidh tú?Will you sacrifice? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Íobróidh sé / síHe will sacrifice | Ní íobróidh sé / síHe will not sacrifice | An íobróidh sé / sí?Will he sacrifice? |
| sinn (we) | ÍobróimidWe will sacrifice | Ní íobróimidWe will not sacrifice | An íobróimid?Will we sacrifice? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Íobróidh sibhYou will sacrifice | Ní íobróidh sibhYou will not sacrifice | An íobróidh sibh?Will you sacrifice? |
| siad (they) | Íobróidh siadThey will sacrifice | Ní íobróidh siadThey will not sacrifice | An íobróidh siad?Will they sacrifice? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Íobrófar | Ní íobrófar | An íobrófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'íobróinnI would sacrifice | Ní íobróinnI would not sacrifice | An íobróinn?Would I sacrifice? |
| tú (you) | D'íobrófáYou would sacrifice | Ní íobrófáYou would not sacrifice | An íobrófá?Would you sacrifice? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'íobródh sé / síHe would sacrifice | Ní íobródh sé / síHe would not sacrifice | An íobródh sé / sí?Would he sacrifice? |
| sinn (we) | D'íobróimisWe would sacrifice | Ní íobróimisWe would not sacrifice | An íobróimis?Would we sacrifice? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'íobródh sibhYou would sacrifice | Ní íobródh sibhYou would not sacrifice | An íobródh sibh?Would you sacrifice? |
| siad (they) | D'íobróidísThey would sacrifice | Ní íobróidísThey would not sacrifice | An íobróidís?Would they sacrifice? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | D'íobrófaí | Ní íobrófaí | An íobrófaí? |
“Íobair” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
D'íobair sé a shaol ar son a thíre.
He sacrificed his life for his country.
Íobraíonn tuismitheoirí go leor ar son a bpáistí.
Parents sacrifice a lot for their children.
Íobróidh siad uan ar an altóir.
They will sacrifice a lamb on the altar.
D'íobróinn gach rud ar a son.
I would sacrifice everything for her.
Níor íobair sí a cuid prionsabal riamh.
She never sacrificed her principles.
Ar íobair tú do shaoire don obair?
Did you sacrifice your holiday for work?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To sacrifice in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to sacrifice?
The Irish for to sacrifice is íobair (pronounced “EE-bir”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is íobairt.
What is the verbal noun of íobair?
The verbal noun of íobair is íobairt, used after ag for the continuous: ag íobairt (sacrificing). The verbal adjective is íobartha.
How do you say íobair in the past and the future?
Past: D'íobair mé; negative Níor íobair mé; question Ar íobair mé?. Future: Íobróidh mé; negative Ní íobróidh mé; question An íobróidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of íobair?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is D'íobróinn (I would sacrifice); negative Ní íobróinn; question An íobróinn?.
What preposition is used with 'íobair' for the cause?
Use 'ar son': d'íobair sé a shaol ar son na hÉireann, he sacrificed his life for Ireland.
What is the noun for 'a sacrifice'?
The verbal noun 'íobairt' also means a sacrifice: rinne sí íobairt mhór, she made a great sacrifice.
