Forms
An introduction to Irish prepositions, covering simple and compound forms, mutations, and how they combine with pronouns and the definite article.
Prepositions are small words like “in”, “on”, “with”, and “for” that link nouns to other parts of a sentence. In Irish, they are called réamhfhocail. They are fundamental to building sentences but have a few features that are different from English.
The most important things to learn about Irish prepositions are:
- They can cause initial mutations (lenition or eclipsis) on the noun that follows them.
- They combine with pronouns to form single words, often called “conjugated prepositions” or “prepositional pronouns”.
Simple and Compound Prepositions
Irish has two main types of prepositions.
Simple prepositions are single words. The most common ones are:
ag, ar, as, chuig, de, do, faoi, gan, i, idir, le, ó, roimh, thar, trí, um.
Compound prepositions are phrases made of two or more words, usually ending with a simple preposition.
- in aice le - next to
- os comhair - in front of
- i lár - in the middle of
Mutations after Prepositions
Many simple prepositions cause an initial mutation on the noun that follows them. This is a key part of correct Irish grammar.
Lenition
Some prepositions cause lenition (adding an h). These include de, do, faoi, ó, roimh, and trí.
- Thit sé de chrann - He fell from a tree. (from
crann) - Labhair mé le Mháire - I spoke with Máire. (from
Máire)
Eclipsis
Some prepositions cause eclipsis (prefixing a new consonant sound). The most common is i.
- Tá mé i nGaillimh - I am in Galway. (from
Gaillimh) - Chuir sé snaidhm sa gcrann - He put a knot in the tree. (from
crann)
No Mutation
Some prepositions, like ag, as, and gan, do not cause a mutation on their own.
- Tá mé ag an siopa - I am at the shop.
- Tháinig sé as Baile Átha Cliath - He came from Dublin.
Prepositional Pronouns
A major feature of Irish is that prepositions merge with pronouns. Instead of saying “with me” or “on you”, Irish uses a single, combined word. These are often called “conjugated prepositions”.
Every preposition has its own set of these forms. For example, here are the forms for ag (at):
| Person | Form | Meaning | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Sg. | agam | at me | Tá peann agam (I have a pen) |
| 2nd Sg. | agat | at you | An bhfuil airgead agat? (Do you have money?) |
| 3rd Sg. (m) | aige | at him | Tá carr aige (He has a car) |
| 3rd Sg. (f) | aici | at her | Tá post aici (She has a job) |
| 1st Pl. | againn | at us | Tá teach mór againn (We have a big house) |
| 2nd Pl. | agaibh | at you (pl) | Tá fáilte romhaibh agaibh (You are welcome) |
| 3rd Pl. | acu | at them | Tá madra acu (They have a dog) |
Mastering these forms is essential for fluency, as they are used constantly in everyday speech, especially for expressing possession with ag.
Combining with the Definite Article
Some prepositions merge with the singular definite article an to form a single word.
i+an→sa(in the)- Tá an t-airgead sa sparán - The money is in the wallet.
de+an→den(from the / of the)- Thit an leabhar den bhord - The book fell from the table.
do+an→don(to the / for the)- Thug mé an t-úll don mhúinteoir - I gave the apple to the teacher.
ó+an→ón(from the)- Fuair mé litir ón dochtúir - I got a letter from the doctor.
Note that le + an becomes leis an, which remains two words.
- Labhair mé leis an ngarda - I spoke with the guard.