HeyRuaHow to say “to want” in Irish
- Irish:
- teastaigh
- English:
- to want, need, be missing
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- teastáil (ag teastáil, wanting)
- Verbal adjective:
- teastaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “TYAS-tee” /ˈtʲasˠt̪ˠi/
What does “teastaigh” mean?
“Teastaigh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to want
- To be wanted by someone; the thing wanted is the subject and the person takes 'ó': 'teastaíonn X uaim', I want X.Also: wish for, would like.
2 other meanings: need or be missing
- 2to need
- To be needed or required by someone, used with 'ó'.Also: require, be needed, be required.
- 3to be missing
- To be lacking or absent, used without 'ó'.Also: be lacking, be absent.
“Teastaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Theastaigh méI wanted | Níor theastaigh méI did not want | Ar theastaigh mé?Did I want? |
| tú (you) | Theastaigh túYou wanted | Níor theastaigh túYou did not want | Ar theastaigh tú?Did you want? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Theastaigh sé / síHe wanted | Níor theastaigh sé / síHe did not want | Ar theastaigh sé / sí?Did he want? |
| sinn (we) | TheastaíomarWe wanted | Níor theastaíomarWe did not want | Ar theastaíomar?Did we want? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Theastaigh sibhYou wanted | Níor theastaigh sibhYou did not want | Ar theastaigh sibh?Did you want? |
| siad (they) | Theastaigh siadThey wanted | Níor theastaigh siadThey did not want | Ar theastaigh siad?Did they want? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Teastaíodh | Níor teastaíodh | Ar teastaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | TeastaímI want | Ní theastaímI do not want | An dteastaím?Do I want? |
| tú (you) | Teastaíonn túYou want | Ní theastaíonn túYou do not want | An dteastaíonn tú?Do you want? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Teastaíonn sé / síHe wants | Ní theastaíonn sé / síHe does not want | An dteastaíonn sé / sí?Does he want? |
| sinn (we) | TeastaímidWe want | Ní theastaímidWe do not want | An dteastaímid?Do we want? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Teastaíonn sibhYou want | Ní theastaíonn sibhYou do not want | An dteastaíonn sibh?Do you want? |
| siad (they) | Teastaíonn siadThey want | Ní theastaíonn siadThey do not want | An dteastaíonn siad?Do they want? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Teastaítear | Ní theastaítear | An dteastaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Teastóidh méI will want | Ní theastóidh méI will not want | An dteastóidh mé?Will I want? |
| tú (you) | Teastóidh túYou will want | Ní theastóidh túYou will not want | An dteastóidh tú?Will you want? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Teastóidh sé / síHe will want | Ní theastóidh sé / síHe will not want | An dteastóidh sé / sí?Will he want? |
| sinn (we) | TeastóimidWe will want | Ní theastóimidWe will not want | An dteastóimid?Will we want? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Teastóidh sibhYou will want | Ní theastóidh sibhYou will not want | An dteastóidh sibh?Will you want? |
| siad (they) | Teastóidh siadThey will want | Ní theastóidh siadThey will not want | An dteastóidh siad?Will they want? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Teastófar | Ní theastófar | An dteastófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | TheastóinnI would want | Ní theastóinnI would not want | An dteastóinn?Would I want? |
| tú (you) | TheastófáYou would want | Ní theastófáYou would not want | An dteastófá?Would you want? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Theastódh sé / síHe would want | Ní theastódh sé / síHe would not want | An dteastódh sé / sí?Would he want? |
| sinn (we) | TheastóimisWe would want | Ní theastóimisWe would not want | An dteastóimis?Would we want? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Theastódh sibhYou would want | Ní theastódh sibhYou would not want | An dteastódh sibh?Would you want? |
| siad (they) | TheastóidísThey would want | Ní theastóidísThey would not want | An dteastóidís?Would they want? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Theastófaí | Ní theastófaí | An dteastófaí? |
“Teastaigh” 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 want in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to want?
The Irish for to want is teastaigh (pronounced “TYAS-tee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is teastáil.
What is the verbal noun of teastaigh?
The verbal noun of teastaigh is teastáil, used after ag for the continuous: ag teastáil (wanting). The verbal adjective is teastaithe.
How do you say teastaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Theastaigh mé; negative Níor theastaigh mé; question Ar theastaigh mé?. Future: Teastóidh mé; negative Ní theastóidh mé; question An dteastóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of teastaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Theastóinn (I would want); negative Ní theastóinn; question An dteastóinn?.
Does teastaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Teastaigh can mean to want, to need or to be missing, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'I want' with 'teastaigh'?
The thing wanted is the subject and you add 'ó' for the person: 'Teastaíonn airgead uaim' means 'I want money'.
What is the difference between 'teastaigh' and 'tá X uaim'?
Both mean wanting or needing: 'Tá airgead uaim' and 'Teastaíonn airgead uaim' are nearly the same, with 'teastaigh' slightly more formal.
