HeyRuaHow to say “to turn grey” in Irish
- Irish:
- liath
- English:
- to turn grey, fade, wear out, colour
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- liathadh (ag liathadh, turning grey)
- Verbal adjective:
- liata
- Pronunciation:
- “lee-uh” /lʲiə/
What does “liath” mean?
“Liath” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to turn grey
- To become grey, especially of hair, or to make something grey.Also: go grey, grey, become grey.
3 other meanings: fade or wear out or colour
- 2to fade
- To lose colour and become pale or faded.Also: become faded, pale.
- 3to wear out
- To worry or tire someone so much that it gives them grey hairs.Also: give grey hairs, worry.
- 4to colour
- To add a little milk to tea or water so it turns pale.Also: whiten, add milk.
“Liath” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Liath méI turned grey | Níor liath méI did not turn grey | Ar liath mé?Did I turn grey? |
| tú (you) | Liath túYou turned grey | Níor liath túYou did not turn grey | Ar liath tú?Did you turn grey? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Liath sé / síHe turned grey | Níor liath sé / síHe did not turn grey | Ar liath sé / sí?Did he turn grey? |
| sinn (we) | LiathamarWe turned grey | Níor liathamarWe did not turn grey | Ar liathamar?Did we turn grey? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Liath sibhYou turned grey | Níor liath sibhYou did not turn grey | Ar liath sibh?Did you turn grey? |
| siad (they) | Liath siadThey turned grey | Níor liath siadThey did not turn grey | Ar liath siad?Did they turn grey? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Liathadh | Níor liathadh | Ar liathadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | LiathaimI turn grey | Ní liathaimI do not turn grey | An liathaim?Do I turn grey? |
| tú (you) | Liathann túYou turn grey | Ní liathann túYou do not turn grey | An liathann tú?Do you turn grey? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Liathann sé / síHe turns grey | Ní liathann sé / síHe does not turn grey | An liathann sé / sí?Does he turn grey? |
| sinn (we) | LiathaimidWe turn grey | Ní liathaimidWe do not turn grey | An liathaimid?Do we turn grey? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Liathann sibhYou turn grey | Ní liathann sibhYou do not turn grey | An liathann sibh?Do you turn grey? |
| siad (they) | Liathann siadThey turn grey | Ní liathann siadThey do not turn grey | An liathann siad?Do they turn grey? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Liatar | Ní liatar | An liatar? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Liathfaidh méI will turn grey | Ní liathfaidh méI will not turn grey | An liathfaidh mé?Will I turn grey? |
| tú (you) | Liathfaidh túYou will turn grey | Ní liathfaidh túYou will not turn grey | An liathfaidh tú?Will you turn grey? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Liathfaidh sé / síHe will turn grey | Ní liathfaidh sé / síHe will not turn grey | An liathfaidh sé / sí?Will he turn grey? |
| sinn (we) | LiathfaimidWe will turn grey | Ní liathfaimidWe will not turn grey | An liathfaimid?Will we turn grey? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Liathfaidh sibhYou will turn grey | Ní liathfaidh sibhYou will not turn grey | An liathfaidh sibh?Will you turn grey? |
| siad (they) | Liathfaidh siadThey will turn grey | Ní liathfaidh siadThey will not turn grey | An liathfaidh siad?Will they turn grey? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Liathfar | Ní liathfar | An liathfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | LiathfainnI would turn grey | Ní liathfainnI would not turn grey | An liathfainn?Would I turn grey? |
| tú (you) | LiathfáYou would turn grey | Ní liathfáYou would not turn grey | An liathfá?Would you turn grey? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Liathfadh sé / síHe would turn grey | Ní liathfadh sé / síHe would not turn grey | An liathfadh sé / sí?Would he turn grey? |
| sinn (we) | LiathfaimisWe would turn grey | Ní liathfaimisWe would not turn grey | An liathfaimis?Would we turn grey? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Liathfadh sibhYou would turn grey | Ní liathfadh sibhYou would not turn grey | An liathfadh sibh?Would you turn grey? |
| siad (they) | LiathfaidísThey would turn grey | Ní liathfaidísThey would not turn grey | An liathfaidís?Would they turn grey? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Liathfaí | Ní liathfaí | An liathfaí? |
“Liath” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Liath a chuid gruaige go hóg.
His hair turned grey early.
Liathann an ghruaig le haois.
Hair turns grey with age.
Liathfadh an ghrian na cuirtíní.
The sun would fade the curtains.
Níor liath a ghruaig riamh.
His hair never turned grey.
Ar liath do ghruaig go luath?
Did your hair go grey early?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To turn grey in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to turn grey?
The Irish for to turn grey is liath (pronounced “lee-uh”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is liathadh.
What is the verbal noun of liath?
The verbal noun of liath is liathadh, used after ag for the continuous: ag liathadh (turning grey). The verbal adjective is liata.
How do you say liath in the past and the future?
Past: Liath mé; negative Níor liath mé; question Ar liath mé?. Future: Liathfaidh mé; negative Ní liathfaidh mé; question An liathfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of liath?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Liathfainn (I would turn grey); negative Ní liathfainn; question An liathfainn?.
Does liath have more than one meaning?
Yes. Liath can mean to turn grey, to fade, to wear out or to colour, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Is 'liath' only an adjective?
No, 'liath' is also a verb meaning to turn grey, as in 'Liath a ghruaig', his hair went grey; the adjective is the same word.
