HeyRuaHow to say “to threaten” in Irish
- Irish:
- bagair
- English:
- to threaten, brandish, beckon, drive
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- bagairt (ag bagairt, threatening)
- Verbal adjective:
- bagartha
- Pronunciation:
- “BAG-ir” /ˈbˠaɡəɾʲ/
What does “bagair” mean?
“Bagair” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to threaten
- To warn someone that you will hurt them or do something bad to them; the person threatened takes 'ar'.Also: menace, intimidate.
3 other meanings: brandish or beckon or drive
- 2to brandish
- To wave or shake something, such as a weapon or a fist, in a threatening way.Also: shake, wave threateningly.
- 3to beckon
- To signal to someone with your hand or head to come or to do something.Also: motion, signal.
- 4to drive
- To urge animals forward or drive them along.Also: urge on, herd.
“Bagair” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Bhagair méI threatened | Níor bhagair méI did not threaten | Ar bhagair mé?Did I threaten? |
| tú (you) | Bhagair túYou threatened | Níor bhagair túYou did not threaten | Ar bhagair tú?Did you threaten? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bhagair sé / síHe threatened | Níor bhagair sé / síHe did not threaten | Ar bhagair sé / sí?Did he threaten? |
| sinn (we) | BhagraíomarWe threatened | Níor bhagraíomarWe did not threaten | Ar bhagraíomar?Did we threaten? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bhagair sibhYou threatened | Níor bhagair sibhYou did not threaten | Ar bhagair sibh?Did you threaten? |
| siad (they) | Bhagair siadThey threatened | Níor bhagair siadThey did not threaten | Ar bhagair siad?Did they threaten? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Bagraíodh | Níor bagraíodh | Ar bagraíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | BagraímI threaten | Ní bhagraímI do not threaten | An mbagraím?Do I threaten? |
| tú (you) | Bagraíonn túYou threaten | Ní bhagraíonn túYou do not threaten | An mbagraíonn tú?Do you threaten? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bagraíonn sé / síHe threatens | Ní bhagraíonn sé / síHe does not threaten | An mbagraíonn sé / sí?Does he threaten? |
| sinn (we) | BagraímidWe threaten | Ní bhagraímidWe do not threaten | An mbagraímid?Do we threaten? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bagraíonn sibhYou threaten | Ní bhagraíonn sibhYou do not threaten | An mbagraíonn sibh?Do you threaten? |
| siad (they) | Bagraíonn siadThey threaten | Ní bhagraíonn siadThey do not threaten | An mbagraíonn siad?Do they threaten? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Bagraítear | Ní bhagraítear | An mbagraítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Bagróidh méI will threaten | Ní bhagróidh méI will not threaten | An mbagróidh mé?Will I threaten? |
| tú (you) | Bagróidh túYou will threaten | Ní bhagróidh túYou will not threaten | An mbagróidh tú?Will you threaten? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bagróidh sé / síHe will threaten | Ní bhagróidh sé / síHe will not threaten | An mbagróidh sé / sí?Will he threaten? |
| sinn (we) | BagróimidWe will threaten | Ní bhagróimidWe will not threaten | An mbagróimid?Will we threaten? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bagróidh sibhYou will threaten | Ní bhagróidh sibhYou will not threaten | An mbagróidh sibh?Will you threaten? |
| siad (they) | Bagróidh siadThey will threaten | Ní bhagróidh siadThey will not threaten | An mbagróidh siad?Will they threaten? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Bagrófar | Ní bhagrófar | An mbagrófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | BhagróinnI would threaten | Ní bhagróinnI would not threaten | An mbagróinn?Would I threaten? |
| tú (you) | BhagrófáYou would threaten | Ní bhagrófáYou would not threaten | An mbagrófá?Would you threaten? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bhagródh sé / síHe would threaten | Ní bhagródh sé / síHe would not threaten | An mbagródh sé / sí?Would he threaten? |
| sinn (we) | BhagróimisWe would threaten | Ní bhagróimisWe would not threaten | An mbagróimis?Would we threaten? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bhagródh sibhYou would threaten | Ní bhagródh sibhYou would not threaten | An mbagródh sibh?Would you threaten? |
| siad (they) | BhagróidísThey would threaten | Ní bhagróidísThey would not threaten | An mbagróidís?Would they threaten? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Bhagrófaí | Ní bhagrófaí | An mbagrófaí? |
“Bagair” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Bhagair sé orm go nglaofadh sé ar na gardaí.
He threatened to call the guards on me.
Bagraíonn sé orainn gach uair a thagaimid.
He threatens us every time we come.
Bagróidh siad stailc má leanann sé seo.
They will threaten a strike if this continues.
Bhagródh sí an dlí orthu dá mbeadh gá.
She would threaten them with the law if necessary.
Níor bhagair mé ar aon duine riamh.
I never threatened anyone.
Ar bhagair sé a dhorn ort?
Did he shake his fist at you?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To threaten in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to threaten?
The Irish for to threaten is bagair (pronounced “BAG-ir”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is bagairt.
What is the verbal noun of bagair?
The verbal noun of bagair is bagairt, used after ag for the continuous: ag bagairt (threatening). The verbal adjective is bagartha.
How do you say bagair in the past and the future?
Past: Bhagair mé; negative Níor bhagair mé; question Ar bhagair mé?. Future: Bagróidh mé; negative Ní bhagróidh mé; question An mbagróidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of bagair?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Bhagróinn (I would threaten); negative Ní bhagróinn; question An mbagróinn?.
Does bagair have more than one meaning?
Yes. Bagair can mean to threaten, to brandish, to beckon or to drive, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Which preposition does 'bagair' take for the person threatened?
Use 'ar': 'Bhagair sé orm' means 'He threatened me'. The thing threatened is the direct object, as in 'bhagair sí an dlí orainn'.
