HeyRuaHow to say “to win” in Irish
- Irish:
- buaigh
- English:
- to win, defeat
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- buachan (ag buachan, winning)
- Verbal adjective:
- buaite
- Pronunciation:
- “boo-ig” /bˠuəɟ/
What does “buaigh” mean?
“Buaigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to win
- To come first in a game, contest or election, or to gain a prize.Also: gain, be victorious, triumph.
1 other meaning: defeat
- 2to defeat
- To beat an opponent; used with 'ar' (bhuaigh sé orm, he beat me).Also: beat, overcome, conquer.
Other Irish verbs for to win: gnóthaigh (win)
“Buaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Bhuaigh méI won | Níor bhuaigh méI did not win | Ar bhuaigh mé?Did I win? |
| tú (you) | Bhuaigh túYou won | Níor bhuaigh túYou did not win | Ar bhuaigh tú?Did you win? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bhuaigh sé / síHe won | Níor bhuaigh sé / síHe did not win | Ar bhuaigh sé / sí?Did he win? |
| sinn (we) | BhuamarWe won | Níor bhuamarWe did not win | Ar bhuamar?Did we win? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bhuaigh sibhYou won | Níor bhuaigh sibhYou did not win | Ar bhuaigh sibh?Did you win? |
| siad (they) | Bhuaigh siadThey won | Níor bhuaigh siadThey did not win | Ar bhuaigh siad?Did they win? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Buadh | Níor buadh | Ar buadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | BuaimI win | Ní bhuaimI do not win | An mbuaim?Do I win? |
| tú (you) | Buann túYou win | Ní bhuann túYou do not win | An mbuann tú?Do you win? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Buann sé / síHe wins | Ní bhuann sé / síHe does not win | An mbuann sé / sí?Does he win? |
| sinn (we) | BuaimidWe win | Ní bhuaimidWe do not win | An mbuaimid?Do we win? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Buann sibhYou win | Ní bhuann sibhYou do not win | An mbuann sibh?Do you win? |
| siad (they) | Buann siadThey win | Ní bhuann siadThey do not win | An mbuann siad?Do they win? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Buaitear | Ní bhuaitear | An mbuaitear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Buafaidh méI will win | Ní bhuafaidh méI will not win | An mbuafaidh mé?Will I win? |
| tú (you) | Buafaidh túYou will win | Ní bhuafaidh túYou will not win | An mbuafaidh tú?Will you win? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Buafaidh sé / síHe will win | Ní bhuafaidh sé / síHe will not win | An mbuafaidh sé / sí?Will he win? |
| sinn (we) | BuafaimidWe will win | Ní bhuafaimidWe will not win | An mbuafaimid?Will we win? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Buafaidh sibhYou will win | Ní bhuafaidh sibhYou will not win | An mbuafaidh sibh?Will you win? |
| siad (they) | Buafaidh siadThey will win | Ní bhuafaidh siadThey will not win | An mbuafaidh siad?Will they win? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Buafar | Ní bhuafar | An mbuafar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | BhuafainnI would win | Ní bhuafainnI would not win | An mbuafainn?Would I win? |
| tú (you) | BhuafáYou would win | Ní bhuafáYou would not win | An mbuafá?Would you win? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bhuafadh sé / síHe would win | Ní bhuafadh sé / síHe would not win | An mbuafadh sé / sí?Would he win? |
| sinn (we) | BhuafaimisWe would win | Ní bhuafaimisWe would not win | An mbuafaimis?Would we win? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bhuafadh sibhYou would win | Ní bhuafadh sibhYou would not win | An mbuafadh sibh?Would you win? |
| siad (they) | BhuafaidísThey would win | Ní bhuafaidísThey would not win | An mbuafaidís?Would they win? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Bhuafaí | Ní bhuafaí | An mbuafaí? |
“Buaigh” 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 win in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to win?
The Irish for to win is buaigh (pronounced “boo-ig”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is buachan.
What is the verbal noun of buaigh?
The verbal noun of buaigh is buachan, used after ag for the continuous: ag buachan (winning). The verbal adjective is buaite.
How do you say buaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Bhuaigh mé; negative Níor bhuaigh mé; question Ar bhuaigh mé?. Future: Buafaidh mé; negative Ní bhuafaidh mé; question An mbuafaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of buaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Bhuafainn (I would win); negative Ní bhuafainn; question An mbuafainn?.
Does buaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Buaigh can mean to win or to defeat, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'beat someone' with buaigh?
Use the preposition 'ar': 'Bhuaigh Gaillimh ar Mhaigh Eo' means Galway beat Mayo.
What is the opposite of buaigh?
The opposite is 'caill', to lose: 'Chailleamar an cluiche' means we lost the game.
