HeyRuaHow to say “to spread” in Irish
- Irish:
- leath
- English:
- to spread, open wide, halve
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- leathadh (ag leathadh, spreading)
- Verbal adjective:
- leata
- Pronunciation:
- “lyah” /lʲah/
What does “leath” mean?
“Leath” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to spread
- To spread something out or to spread over an area, as news, disease or weather does.Also: spread out, disperse, extend.
2 other meanings: open wide or halve
“Leath” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Leath méI spread | Níor leath méI did not spread | Ar leath mé?Did I spread? |
| tú (you) | Leath túYou spread | Níor leath túYou did not spread | Ar leath tú?Did you spread? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Leath sé / síHe spread | Níor leath sé / síHe did not spread | Ar leath sé / sí?Did he spread? |
| sinn (we) | LeathamarWe spread | Níor leathamarWe did not spread | Ar leathamar?Did we spread? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Leath sibhYou spread | Níor leath sibhYou did not spread | Ar leath sibh?Did you spread? |
| siad (they) | Leath siadThey spread | Níor leath siadThey did not spread | Ar leath siad?Did they spread? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Leathadh | Níor leathadh | Ar leathadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | LeathaimI spread | Ní leathaimI do not spread | An leathaim?Do I spread? |
| tú (you) | Leathann túYou spread | Ní leathann túYou do not spread | An leathann tú?Do you spread? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Leathann sé / síHe spreads | Ní leathann sé / síHe does not spread | An leathann sé / sí?Does he spread? |
| sinn (we) | LeathaimidWe spread | Ní leathaimidWe do not spread | An leathaimid?Do we spread? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Leathann sibhYou spread | Ní leathann sibhYou do not spread | An leathann sibh?Do you spread? |
| siad (they) | Leathann siadThey spread | Ní leathann siadThey do not spread | An leathann siad?Do they spread? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Leatar | Ní leatar | An leatar? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Leathfaidh méI will spread | Ní leathfaidh méI will not spread | An leathfaidh mé?Will I spread? |
| tú (you) | Leathfaidh túYou will spread | Ní leathfaidh túYou will not spread | An leathfaidh tú?Will you spread? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Leathfaidh sé / síHe will spread | Ní leathfaidh sé / síHe will not spread | An leathfaidh sé / sí?Will he spread? |
| sinn (we) | LeathfaimidWe will spread | Ní leathfaimidWe will not spread | An leathfaimid?Will we spread? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Leathfaidh sibhYou will spread | Ní leathfaidh sibhYou will not spread | An leathfaidh sibh?Will you spread? |
| siad (they) | Leathfaidh siadThey will spread | Ní leathfaidh siadThey will not spread | An leathfaidh siad?Will they spread? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Leathfar | Ní leathfar | An leathfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | LeathfainnI would spread | Ní leathfainnI would not spread | An leathfainn?Would I spread? |
| tú (you) | LeathfáYou would spread | Ní leathfáYou would not spread | An leathfá?Would you spread? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Leathfadh sé / síHe would spread | Ní leathfadh sé / síHe would not spread | An leathfadh sé / sí?Would he spread? |
| sinn (we) | LeathfaimisWe would spread | Ní leathfaimisWe would not spread | An leathfaimis?Would we spread? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Leathfadh sibhYou would spread | Ní leathfadh sibhYou would not spread | An leathfadh sibh?Would you spread? |
| siad (they) | LeathfaidísThey would spread | Ní leathfaidísThey would not spread | An leathfaidís?Would they spread? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Leathfaí | Ní leathfaí | An leathfaí? |
“Leath” 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 spread in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to spread?
The Irish for to spread is leath (pronounced “lyah”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is leathadh.
What is the verbal noun of leath?
The verbal noun of leath is leathadh, used after ag for the continuous: ag leathadh (spreading). The verbal adjective is leata.
How do you say leath in the past and the future?
Past: Leath mé; negative Níor leath mé; question Ar leath mé?. Future: Leathfaidh mé; negative Ní leathfaidh mé; question An leathfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of leath?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Leathfainn (I would spread); negative Ní leathfainn; question An leathfainn?.
Does leath have more than one meaning?
Yes. Leath can mean to spread, to open wide or to halve, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is 'leath' the verb different from 'leath' meaning half?
The noun 'leath' means half, as in 'leath an méid sin', while the verb 'leath' means to spread, as in 'Leath an scéal'.
What is the difference between 'leath' and 'scaip'?
'Leath' suggests spreading out over an area or widening, while 'scaip' stresses scattering or dispersing in many directions.
