Le (with)

The preposition le is one of the most common in Irish, with a core meaning of “with”. It is used to express accompaniment, possession, comparison, and features in a wide range of idiomatic phrases. It combines with pronouns to form a set of conjugated prepositions.

Grammar and Mutations

Like most simple prepositions, le requires the dative case for the noun that follows it, although this is only noticeable with a few nouns in the singular. It also causes initial mutations, which depend on whether the noun is preceded by the definite article.

Without the Article

When le is followed directly by a noun, it causes no lenition or eclipsis. However, it adds an h-prefix to nouns that begin with a vowel.

• le hAoife - with Aoife
• le Máirtín - with Martin
• le spáid - with a spade

With the Article

When le is followed by the definite article an or na, it changes to the form leis. The mutation that follows depends on the dialect.

• le + an becomes leis an
• le + na becomes leis na

The standard rule is that leis an causes eclipsis.

• leis an mbord - with the table

However, there are significant dialectal variations.

Conjugated and Possessive Forms

Like all simple prepositions, le combines with personal and possessive pronouns to create a single word.

With Personal Pronouns

These are the conjugated forms of le, also known as prepositional pronouns.

With Possessive Pronouns

The three lena forms are distinguished by the initial mutation they cause on the following noun:

• lena (his) causes lenition.
• lena (her) causes no mutation.
• lena (their) causes eclipsis.

Asking Questions

To ask questions using le, you use the following forms:

• cé leis? - With whom?
• cad leis? / cé leis? / cá leis? - With what?
• cé leis? (in a copular sentence) - To whom does… belong?
  • Cé leis an teach sin? - To whom does that house belong?

Relative Clause Forms

When le is used at the start of an indirect relative clause, it combines with the relative particle a.

• lena is followed by eclipsis.
• lenar is followed by lenition.

These forms are used when the preposition comes before the relative clause.

• an bhean lena dtéim - the woman with whom I go

However, it is more common in modern Irish to move the preposition to the end of the clause, using its conjugated form.

• an bhean a dtéim léi - the woman that I go with her

Usage and Meanings

The preposition le has a wide variety of uses beyond its core meaning of “with”.

Accompaniment

This is the most direct meaning, indicating that someone or something is accompanied.

• Tá mé le Máirtín - I am with Martin.

Means or Instrument

le is used to show the tool or means by which something is done.

• Scríobh mé an litir le peann - I wrote the letter with a pen.
• Fuair sé bás leis an ocras - He died of hunger.

Purpose or Obligation

When used with a verbal noun, le can indicate purpose or something that needs to be done.

• Tá neart le n-ól ann - There is plenty to drink there.
• Sin scéal le hinsint - That is a story to tell.
• Tháinig mé le balla a phéinteáil - I came to paint a wall.

It can also be used in adjectival phrases.

• Tá sé maith le hithe - It is good to eat.
• Tá sé crua le cogaint - It is hard to chew.

Moving Force

le can describe being moved by a natural force.

• ag seoladh le gaoth - sailing with the wind
• ag snámh le sruth - swimming with the current

Point in Time

It can mean “at the beginning of” or “at the break of”.

• leis an lá - at daybreak
• leis an mí - at the beginning of the month

Cause of States

le is used to express the cause of a physical or psychological state.

• bás a fháil leis an tuirse - to die from tiredness
• ag caoineadh le hól - crying due to drinking
• rinne sé le greann é - he did it for fun
• ní féidir liom codladh leis an ngleo - I can’t sleep because of the noise

Behaviour Towards Others

It indicates the target of behaviour or emotion.

• Bí deas leis - Be nice to him.
• Tá fearg orm leat - I am angry with you.

Location and Movement

le can mean “close to”, “against”, or “alongside”.

• Tá an cathaoir leis an mballa - The chair is against the wall.
• Sheas sé le tine - He stood close to the fire.
• D’éirigh sé le balla - He climbed up a wall.
• Thit sé le haill - He fell down a cliff.

Direction

It can indicate direction “towards” something.

• luí le grian - to lie in the sun (towards the sun)
• Thug sé a chúl leo - He turned his back to them.
• Tá súil agam le dea-scéala - I hope for good news.

Support or Reason

le can mean “for” or “in favour of”.

• paidir le duine - a prayer for someone
• cúis le rud - a reason for something
• fianaise le scéal - evidence for a story

Duration

It is used to express a duration of time, meaning “for” or “since”.

• Tá mé anseo le seachtain - I have been here for a week.
• Ní fhaca mé le fada thú - I haven’t seen you for a while.

Subjective Assessment

With the copula, le is used to express opinions, preferences, and feelings. This is a very common structure.

• is maith liom - I like (“it is good with me”)
• ba mhaith liom - I would like
• is fearr liom - I prefer
• is fuath liom - I hate
• is ionadh liom - I wonder / I find it strange
• is dóigh liom - I think / I am of the opinion
• is cuma liom - I don’t care
• is fada liom an lá - I find the day long.
• is minic liom a dhéanamh - I do it often.

Possession

With the copula, le indicates ownership.

• Is le Cáit an teach - The house belongs to Cáit.
• An leatsa an peann seo? - Is this pen yours?

This extends to relationships and authorship.

• cara liom - a friend of mine
• iníon leis - a daughter of his
• leabhar le Séamus - a book by Séamus

Ability

The phrase is féidir le means “can” or “is able to”.

• An féidir leat cabhrú liom? - Can you help me?

Agreement and Success

The meaning of tá ... le changes depending on the structure.

• Tá mé leat faoi sin - I agree with you about that.
• D’éirigh liom sa scrúdú - I succeeded in the exam. (Literally, “success rose with me”)

Comparison

le is essential for forming comparisons of equality with chomh (“as”).

• Tá sé chomh mór leat - He is as big as you.
• i gcomparáid le - in comparison with
• inchurtha le - comparable to

Continuation

Used with a verb, le can mean to continue an action.

• Abair leat - Continue speaking. / Say on.
• D’oibrigh mé liom - I continued working.

With Specific Verbs

Many verbs require le to connect to their object.

• fan le - to wait for
• buail le - to meet
• cuidigh le - to help
• éist le - to listen to
• labhair le - to speak with
• aontaigh le - to agree with

Taking Turns

The phrase is leat means “it’s your turn”.

• Is leatsa anois é - It’s your turn now.

Taking or Bringing

The verb tá with a conjugated form of le can mean to take or bring something along.

• An bhfuil do mhála leat? - Do you have your bag with you?
• Tá sé liom - I have it with me / I’ll bring it.

Compound Prepositions

le is a component of several common compound prepositions.

• maidir le - regarding, concerning, as for
• in aice le - next to, beside
• in éineacht le - together with, along with

Adverbial Use