HeyRuaHow to say “to strive” in Irish
- Irish:
- dréim
- English:
- to strive, contend, climb
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- dréim (ag dréim, striving)
- Verbal adjective:
- dréimthe
- Pronunciation:
- “dreem” /dʲɾʲeːmʲ/
What does “dréim” mean?
“Dréim” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to strive
- To try hard to reach or achieve something, usually with 'le' or 'chun'.Also: aspire, aim, strive for.
2 other meanings: contend or climb
- 2to contend
- To compete or struggle against someone or something.Also: vie, compete, struggle.
- 3to climb
- To climb or scale something high.Also: scale, clamber.
“Dréim” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Dhréim méI strived | Níor dhréim méI did not strive | Ar dhréim mé?Did I strive? |
| tú (you) | Dhréim túYou strived | Níor dhréim túYou did not strive | Ar dhréim tú?Did you strive? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Dhréim sé / síHe strived | Níor dhréim sé / síHe did not strive | Ar dhréim sé / sí?Did he strive? |
| sinn (we) | DhréimeamarWe strived | Níor dhréimeamarWe did not strive | Ar dhréimeamar?Did we strive? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Dhréim sibhYou strived | Níor dhréim sibhYou did not strive | Ar dhréim sibh?Did you strive? |
| siad (they) | Dhréim siadThey strived | Níor dhréim siadThey did not strive | Ar dhréim siad?Did they strive? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Dréimeadh | Níor dréimeadh | Ar dréimeadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | DréimimI strive | Ní dhréimimI do not strive | An ndréimim?Do I strive? |
| tú (you) | Dréimeann túYou strive | Ní dhréimeann túYou do not strive | An ndréimeann tú?Do you strive? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Dréimeann sé / síHe strives | Ní dhréimeann sé / síHe does not strive | An ndréimeann sé / sí?Does he strive? |
| sinn (we) | DréimimidWe strive | Ní dhréimimidWe do not strive | An ndréimimid?Do we strive? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Dréimeann sibhYou strive | Ní dhréimeann sibhYou do not strive | An ndréimeann sibh?Do you strive? |
| siad (they) | Dréimeann siadThey strive | Ní dhréimeann siadThey do not strive | An ndréimeann siad?Do they strive? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Dréimtear | Ní dhréimtear | An ndréimtear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Dréimfidh méI will strive | Ní dhréimfidh méI will not strive | An ndréimfidh mé?Will I strive? |
| tú (you) | Dréimfidh túYou will strive | Ní dhréimfidh túYou will not strive | An ndréimfidh tú?Will you strive? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Dréimfidh sé / síHe will strive | Ní dhréimfidh sé / síHe will not strive | An ndréimfidh sé / sí?Will he strive? |
| sinn (we) | DréimfimidWe will strive | Ní dhréimfimidWe will not strive | An ndréimfimid?Will we strive? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Dréimfidh sibhYou will strive | Ní dhréimfidh sibhYou will not strive | An ndréimfidh sibh?Will you strive? |
| siad (they) | Dréimfidh siadThey will strive | Ní dhréimfidh siadThey will not strive | An ndréimfidh siad?Will they strive? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Dréimfear | Ní dhréimfear | An ndréimfear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | DhréimfinnI would strive | Ní dhréimfinnI would not strive | An ndréimfinn?Would I strive? |
| tú (you) | DhréimfeáYou would strive | Ní dhréimfeáYou would not strive | An ndréimfeá?Would you strive? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Dhréimfeadh sé / síHe would strive | Ní dhréimfeadh sé / síHe would not strive | An ndréimfeadh sé / sí?Would he strive? |
| sinn (we) | DhréimfimisWe would strive | Ní dhréimfimisWe would not strive | An ndréimfimis?Would we strive? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Dhréimfeadh sibhYou would strive | Ní dhréimfeadh sibhYou would not strive | An ndréimfeadh sibh?Would you strive? |
| siad (they) | DhréimfidísThey would strive | Ní dhréimfidísThey would not strive | An ndréimfidís?Would they strive? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Dhréimfí | Ní dhréimfí | An ndréimfí? |
“Dréim” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Dhréim sé le háit a fháil san fhoireann.
He strove to get a place on the team.
Dréimeann sí i gcónaí le barr feabhais.
She always strives for excellence.
Dréimfidh siad leis an duais mhór.
They will strive for the big prize.
Dhréimfinn le post níos fearr dá mbeadh seans agam.
I would aim for a better job if I had a chance.
Níor dhréim sé riamh le saibhreas.
He never strove for wealth.
Ar dhréim tú leis an gcomórtas sin?
Did you strive to win that competition?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To strive in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to strive?
The Irish for to strive is dréim (pronounced “dreem”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is dréim.
What is the verbal noun of dréim?
The verbal noun of dréim is dréim, used after ag for the continuous: ag dréim (striving). The verbal adjective is dréimthe.
How do you say dréim in the past and the future?
Past: Dhréim mé; negative Níor dhréim mé; question Ar dhréim mé?. Future: Dréimfidh mé; negative Ní dhréimfidh mé; question An ndréimfidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of dréim?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Dhréimfinn (I would strive); negative Ní dhréimfinn; question An ndréimfinn?.
Does dréim have more than one meaning?
Yes. Dréim can mean to strive, to contend or to climb, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Which preposition goes with 'dréim' when you strive for something?
Use 'le': 'dréim le rath' means to strive for success. 'Dréim in aghaidh' means to contend against.
Is 'dréim' the same as 'dreap' for climbing?
'Dreap' is the everyday verb for climbing; 'dréim' in that sense is literary and mostly means to strive or aspire.
