HeyRuaHow to say “to speak” in Irish
- Irish:
- labhair
- English:
- to speak, talk to
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- labhairt (ag labhairt, speaking)
- Verbal adjective:
- labhartha
- Pronunciation:
- “lowr” /l̪ˠəuɾʲ/
What does “labhair” mean?
“Labhair” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to speak
- To say words aloud or use a language.Also: talk, say.
1 other meaning: talk to
- 2to talk to
- To address or have a conversation with someone, used with 'le'.Also: speak to, address.
“Labhair” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Labhair méI spoke | Níor labhair méI did not speak | Ar labhair mé?Did I speak? |
| tú (you) | Labhair túYou spoke | Níor labhair túYou did not speak | Ar labhair tú?Did you speak? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Labhair sé / síHe spoke | Níor labhair sé / síHe did not speak | Ar labhair sé / sí?Did he speak? |
| sinn (we) | LabhraíomarWe spoke | Níor labhraíomarWe did not speak | Ar labhraíomar?Did we speak? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Labhair sibhYou spoke | Níor labhair sibhYou did not speak | Ar labhair sibh?Did you speak? |
| siad (they) | Labhair siadThey spoke | Níor labhair siadThey did not speak | Ar labhair siad?Did they speak? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Labhraíodh | Níor labhraíodh | Ar labhraíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | LabhraímI speak | Ní labhraímI do not speak | An labhraím?Do I speak? |
| tú (you) | Labhraíonn túYou speak | Ní labhraíonn túYou do not speak | An labhraíonn tú?Do you speak? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Labhraíonn sé / síHe speaks | Ní labhraíonn sé / síHe does not speak | An labhraíonn sé / sí?Does he speak? |
| sinn (we) | LabhraímidWe speak | Ní labhraímidWe do not speak | An labhraímid?Do we speak? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Labhraíonn sibhYou speak | Ní labhraíonn sibhYou do not speak | An labhraíonn sibh?Do you speak? |
| siad (they) | Labhraíonn siadThey speak | Ní labhraíonn siadThey do not speak | An labhraíonn siad?Do they speak? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Labhraítear | Ní labhraítear | An labhraítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Labhróidh méI will speak | Ní labhróidh méI will not speak | An labhróidh mé?Will I speak? |
| tú (you) | Labhróidh túYou will speak | Ní labhróidh túYou will not speak | An labhróidh tú?Will you speak? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Labhróidh sé / síHe will speak | Ní labhróidh sé / síHe will not speak | An labhróidh sé / sí?Will he speak? |
| sinn (we) | LabhróimidWe will speak | Ní labhróimidWe will not speak | An labhróimid?Will we speak? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Labhróidh sibhYou will speak | Ní labhróidh sibhYou will not speak | An labhróidh sibh?Will you speak? |
| siad (they) | Labhróidh siadThey will speak | Ní labhróidh siadThey will not speak | An labhróidh siad?Will they speak? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Labhrófar | Ní labhrófar | An labhrófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | LabhróinnI would speak | Ní labhróinnI would not speak | An labhróinn?Would I speak? |
| tú (you) | LabhrófáYou would speak | Ní labhrófáYou would not speak | An labhrófá?Would you speak? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Labhródh sé / síHe would speak | Ní labhródh sé / síHe would not speak | An labhródh sé / sí?Would he speak? |
| sinn (we) | LabhróimisWe would speak | Ní labhróimisWe would not speak | An labhróimis?Would we speak? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Labhródh sibhYou would speak | Ní labhródh sibhYou would not speak | An labhródh sibh?Would you speak? |
| siad (they) | LabhróidísThey would speak | Ní labhróidísThey would not speak | An labhróidís?Would they speak? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Labhrófaí | Ní labhrófaí | An labhrófaí? |
“Labhair” 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 speak in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to speak?
The Irish for to speak is labhair (pronounced “lowr”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is labhairt.
What is the verbal noun of labhair?
The verbal noun of labhair is labhairt, used after ag for the continuous: ag labhairt (speaking). The verbal adjective is labhartha.
How do you say labhair in the past and the future?
Past: Labhair mé; negative Níor labhair mé; question Ar labhair mé?. Future: Labhróidh mé; negative Ní labhróidh mé; question An labhróidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of labhair?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Labhróinn (I would speak); negative Ní labhróinn; question An labhróinn?.
Does labhair have more than one meaning?
Yes. Labhair can mean to speak or to talk to, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'labhair' and 'abair'?
'Labhair' means to speak or talk (labhair sé Gaeilge), while 'abair' means to say particular words (dúirt sé go raibh sé tuirseach).
Which preposition does 'labhair' take?
Use 'le' for the person you speak to (labhair liom) and 'faoi' or 'ar' for the topic (labhair sé faoin scéal).
