Monosyllabic Verbs Ending in -igh

Learn how to conjugate regular first conjugation verbs that are monosyllabic and end in -igh, with patterns for different stem vowels.

Verbs Conjugation First Conjugation Regular Verbs

Some monosyllabic verbs in the first conjugation end in -igh. Although the -igh ending is often associated with the second conjugation, these verbs belong to the first because they form their future tense with an -f- marker. Their conjugation patterns depend on the type of vowel in the verb stem.

There are two main categories. For verbs with a long vowel or diphthong, the -igh ending is usually dropped before adding other endings. For verbs with a short vowel, the -igh is considered part of the verb’s root and is retained, typically changing to -í- before an ending.

A note on spelling reform

Modern Irish spelling simplifies many verb forms. For example, the older spelling dóigheann sé is now written as dónn sé (he burns). The -igh- is dropped in writing, though the pronunciation was already changing in that direction. You may still encounter the older spellings in texts written before the mid-20th century.

We can distinguish four groups based on the vowel preceding the -igh ending.

Verbs with a Broad Vowel or Diphthong

This group includes verbs where the stem contains a long broad vowel (á, ó, ú, ao) or a diphthong ending in a broad vowel (eo, ua, ia).

Examples include dóigh (to burn), clóigh (to tame), reoigh (to freeze), brúigh (to press), glaoigh (to call), and luaigh (to mention).

Conjugation Rules

The -igh ending is dropped before adding any other ending, except in the 2nd person singular imperative (e.g., dóigh!) and the 3rd person singular preterite (e.g., dhóigh sé).
Future and conditional endings use a broad f: -faidh, -fadh, -far, -faí.
Endings with -t- are slender: -itear, -iteá, -ití.
In the present subjunctive, the -igh is dropped, leaving only the stem vowel, e.g., go ndó sé (may he burn).
For endings that start with a- like -ann, -adh, and -amar, the a is dropped after the long vowel of the stem, resulting in -nn, -dh, and -mar. For example, dóigh + -ann becomes dónn.

Endings

Person	Present	Preterite	Imperfect	Future	Conditional	Imperative	Pres. Subjunctive	Pret. Subjunctive
1st Sg.	`-im`	`-s`	`-inn`	`-fad`	`-fainn`	`-im`	`-` mé	`-inn`
2nd Sg.	`-nn` tú	`-is`	`-iteá`	`-faidh` tú	`-fá`	`-igh`	`-` tú	`-iteá`
3rd Sg.	`-nn` sé	`-igh` sé	`-dh` sé	`-faidh` sé	`-fadh` sé	`-dh` sé	`-` sé	`-dh` sé
1st Pl.	`-imid`	`-mar`	`-imis`	`-faimid`	`-faimis`	`-imis`	`-imid`	`-imis`
2nd Pl.	`-nn` sibh	`-bhair`	`-dh` sibh	`-faidh` sibh	`-fadh` sibh	`-igí`	`-` sibh	`-dh` sibh
3rd Pl.	`-nn` siad	`-dar`	`-idís`	`-faidh` siad	`-faidís`	`-idís`	`-` siad	`-idís`
Auto.	`-itear`	`-dh`	`-ití`	`-far`	`-faí`	`-itear`	`-itear`	`-ití`
Relative	`-s`	—	—	`-fas`	—	—	—	—

Example: dóigh (to burn)

Person	Present	Preterite	Imperfect	Future	Conditional	Imperative	Pres. Subjunctive	Pret. Subjunctive
1st Sg.	`dóim`	`dhós`	`dhóinn`	`dófad`	`dhófainn`	`dóim`	`go ndó mé`	`dá ndóinn`
2nd Sg.	`dónn tú`	`dhóis`	`dhóiteá`	`dófaidh tú`	`dhófá`	`dóigh`	`go ndó tú`	`dá ndóiteá`
3rd Sg.	`dónn sé`	`dhóigh sé`	`dhódh sé`	`dófaidh sé`	`dhófadh sé`	`dódh sé`	`go ndó sé`	`dá ndódh sé`
1st Pl.	`dóimid`	`dhómar`	`dhóimis`	`dófaimid`	`dhófaimis`	`dóimis`	`go ndóimid`	`dá ndóimis`
2nd Pl.	`dónn sibh`	`dhóbhair`	`dhódh sibh`	`dófaidh sibh`	`dhófadh sibh`	`dóigí`	`go ndó sibh`	`dá ndódh sibh`
3rd Pl.	`dónn siad`	`dhódar`	`dhóidís`	`dófaidh siad`	`dhófaidís`	`dóidís`	`go ndó siad`	`dá ndóidís`
Auto.	`dóitear`	`dódh`	`dhóití`	`dófar`	`dhófaí`	`dóitear`	`go ndóitear`	`dá ndóití`
Relative	`a dhós`	—	—	`a dhófas`	—	—	—	—

Verbs ending in -aeigh

The rare verb glaeigh (to glue) also belongs to this group. It is unusual because it takes the full -ann, -amar, -adh endings instead of the shortened forms, creating the sequence -aea-. However, future and conditional endings are broad (-faidh, -fadh), and endings with -t- are slender (-itear, -iteá).

Glaeann sé - He glues
Ghlaeigh sé - He glued
Glaefaidh sé - He will glue

Verbs Ending in -éigh

This group includes verbs with the long slender vowel é in the stem, such as léigh (to read) and téigh (to heat).

Conjugation Rules

The -igh ending is dropped before adding other endings, except for the 2nd person singular imperative (léigh!) and 3rd person singular preterite (léigh sé).
Future and conditional endings use a slender f: -ifidh, -ifeadh, -ifear, -ifí.
Endings with -t- are slender: -itear, -iteá, -ití.
In the present subjunctive, the -igh is dropped, leaving only the stem vowel é, e.g., go lé sé (may he read).

Endings

Person	Present	Preterite	Imperfect	Future	Conditional	Imperative	Pres. Subjunctive	Pret. Subjunctive
1st Sg.	`-im`	`-as`	`-inn`	`-ifead`	`-ifinn`	`-im`	`-` mé	`-inn`
2nd Sg.	`-ann` tú	`-is`	`-iteá`	`-ifidh` tú	`-ifeá`	`-igh`	`-` tú	`-iteá`
3rd Sg.	`-ann` sé	`-igh` sé	`-adh` sé	`-ifidh` sé	`-ifeadh` sé	`-adh` sé	`-` sé	`-adh` sé
1st Pl.	`-imid`	`-amar`	`-imis`	`-ifimid`	`-ifimis`	`-imis`	`-imid`	`-imis`
2nd Pl.	`-ann` sibh	`-abhair`	`-adh` sibh	`-ifidh` sibh	`-ifeadh` sibh	`-igí`	`-` sibh	`-adh` sibh
3rd Pl.	`-ann` siad	`-adar`	`-idís`	`-ifidh` siad	`-ifidís`	`-idís`	`-` siad	`-idís`
Auto.	`-itear`	`-adh`	`-ití`	`-ifear`	`-ifí`	`-itear`	`-itear`	`-ití`
Relative	`-as`	—	—	`-ifeas`	—	—	—	—

Example: léigh (to read)

Person	Present	Preterite	Imperfect	Future	Conditional	Imperative	Pres. Subjunctive	Pret. Subjunctive
1st Sg.	`léim`	`léas`	`léinn`	`léifead`	`léifinn`	`léim`	`go lé mé`	`dá léinn`
2nd Sg.	`léann tú`	`léis`	`léiteá`	`léifidh tú`	`léifeá`	`léigh`	`go lé tú`	`dá léiteá`
3rd Sg.	`léann sé`	`léigh sé`	`léadh sé`	`léifidh sé`	`léifeadh sé`	`léadh sé`	`go lé sé`	`dá léadh sé`
1st Pl.	`léimid`	`léamar`	`léimis`	`léifimid`	`léifimis`	`léimis`	`go léimid`	`dá léimis`
2nd Pl.	`léann sibh`	`léabhair`	`léadh sibh`	`léifidh sibh`	`léifeadh sibh`	`léigí`	`go lé sibh`	`dá léadh sibh`
3rd Pl.	`léann siad`	`léadar`	`léidís`	`léifidh siad`	`léifidís`	`léidís`	`go lé siad`	`dá léidís`
Auto.	`léitear`	`léadh`	`léití`	`léifear`	`léifí`	`léitear`	`go léitear`	`dá léití`
Relative	`a léas`	—	—	`a léifeas`	—	—	—	—

Verbs Ending in -ígh

This group includes verbs with a long í in the stem, such as maígh (to assert) and caígh (to weep, to lament).

Conjugation Rules

The -gh is omitted before endings.
Future and conditional endings are slender: -fidh, -feadh, -fear, -fí.
Endings with -t- are also slender: -tear, -teá, -tí.
The slender endings -im and -inn are shortened to -m and -nn after the long í.
Endings starting with a- change according to spelling rules after í: -ann becomes -onn, and -amar becomes -omar.
In the present subjunctive, the -gh is dropped, leaving only the stem vowel í, e.g., go maí sé (may he assert).

Endings

Person	Present	Preterite	Imperfect	Future	Conditional	Imperative	Pres. Subjunctive	Pret. Subjunctive
1st Sg.	`-m`	`-os`	`-nn`	`-fead`	`-finn`	`-m`	`-` mé	`-nn`
2nd Sg.	`-onn` tú	`-s`	`-teá`	`-fidh` tú	`-feá`	`-gh`	`-` tú	`-teá`
3rd Sg.	`-onn` sé	`-gh` sé	`-odh` sé	`-fidh` sé	`-feadh` sé	`-odh` sé	`-` sé	`-odh` sé
1st Pl.	`-mid`	`-omar`	`-mis`	`-fimid`	`-fimis`	`-mis`	`-mid`	`-mis`
2nd Pl.	`-onn` sibh	`-obhair`	`-odh` sibh	`-fidh` sibh	`-feadh` sibh	`-gí`	`-` sibh	`-odh` sibh
3rd Pl.	`-onn` siad	`-odar`	`-dís`	`-fidh` siad	`-fidís`	`-dís`	`-` siad	`-dís`
Auto.	`-tear`	`-odh`	`-tí`	`-fear`	`-fí`	`-tear`	`-tear`	`-tí`
Relative	`-os`	—	—	`-feas`	—	—	—	—

Example: maígh (to assert)

Person	Present	Preterite	Imperfect	Future	Conditional	Imperative	Pres. Subjunctive	Pret. Subjunctive
1st Sg.	`maím`	`mhaíos`	`mhaínn`	`maífead`	`mhaífinn`	`maím`	`go maí mé`	`dá maínn`
2nd Sg.	`maíonn tú`	`mhaís`	`mhaíteá`	`maífidh tú`	`mhaífeá`	`maígh`	`go maí tú`	`dá maíteá`
3rd Sg.	`maíonn sé`	`mhaígh sé`	`mhaíodh sé`	`maífidh sé`	`mhaífeadh sé`	`maíodh sé`	`go maí sé`	`dá maíodh sé`
1st Pl.	`maímid`	`mhaíomar`	`mhaímis`	`maífimid`	`mhaífimis`	`maímis`	`go maímid`	`dá maímis`
2nd Pl.	`maíonn sibh`	`mhaíobhair`	`mhaíodh sibh`	`maífidh sibh`	`mhaífeadh sibh`	`maígí`	`go maí sibh`	`dá maíodh sibh`
3rd Pl.	`maíonn siad`	`mhaíodar`	`mhaídís`	`maífidh siad`	`mhaífidís`	`maídís`	`go maí siad`	`dá maídís`
Auto.	`maítear`	`maíodh`	`mhaítí`	`maífear`	`mhaífí`	`maítear`	`go maítear`	`dá maítí`
Relative	`a mhaíos`	—	—	`a mhaífeas`	—	—	—	—

Verbs with a Short Vowel + -igh

This group includes verbs where -igh follows a short vowel or a consonant. Examples include nigh (to wash), figh (to weave), luigh (to lie down), and snoigh (to carve).

Conjugation Rules

The -igh ending is part of the verb root and is never omitted.
Before most endings, the -igh is written as -í-. This is a spelling rule: -igh + -eann was historically -igheann, which simplifies to -íann, and then becomes -íonn to follow vowel harmony rules. Similarly, -igh + -im becomes -ím.
Future and conditional endings are slender and follow this -í-: -ífidh, -ífeadh, -ífear, -ífí.
Endings with -t- (-itear, -iteá, -ití) are an exception: the i remains short. For example, nitear (one washes), not *nítear. This distinguishes them from verbs with a long í in the stem.

Endings

Person	Present	Preterite	Imperfect	Future	Conditional	Imperative	Pres. Subjunctive	Pret. Subjunctive
1st Sg.	`-ím`	`-íos`	`-ínn`	`-ífead`	`-ífinn`	`-ím`	`-í` mé	`-ínn`
2nd Sg.	`-íonn` tú	`-ís`	`-iteá`	`-ífidh` tú	`-ífeá`	`-igh`	`-í` tú	`-iteá`
3rd Sg.	`-íonn` sé	`-igh` sé	`-íodh` sé	`-ífidh` sé	`-ífeadh` sé	`-íodh` sé	`-í` sé	`-íodh` sé
1st Pl.	`-ímid`	`-íomar`	`-ímis`	`-ífimid`	`-ífimis`	`-ímis`	`-ímid`	`-ímis`
2nd Pl.	`-íonn` sibh	`-íobhair`	`-íodh` sibh	`-ífidh` sibh	`-ífeadh` sibh	`-ígí`	`-í` sibh	`-íodh` sibh
3rd Pl.	`-íonn` siad	`-íodar`	`-ídís`	`-ífidh` siad	`-ífidís`	`-ídís`	`-í` siad	`-ídís`
Auto.	`-itear`	`-íodh`	`-ití`	`-ífear`	`-ífí`	`-itear`	`-itear`	`-ití`
Relative	`-íos`	—	—	`-ífeas`	—	—	—	—

Example: nigh (to wash)

Person	Present	Preterite	Imperfect	Future	Conditional	Imperative	Pres. Subjunctive	Pret. Subjunctive
1st Sg.	`ním`	`níos`	`nínn`	`nífead`	`nífinn`	`ním`	`go ní mé`	`dá nínn`
2nd Sg.	`níonn tú`	`nís`	`niteá`	`nífidh tú`	`nífeá`	`nigh`	`go ní tú`	`dá niteá`
3rd Sg.	`níonn sé`	`nigh sé`	`níodh sé`	`nífidh sé`	`nífeadh sé`	`níodh sé`	`go ní sé`	`dá níodh sé`
1st Pl.	`nímid`	`níomar`	`nímis`	`nífimid`	`nífimis`	`nímis`	`go nímid`	`dá nímis`
2nd Pl.	`níonn sibh`	`níobhair`	`níodh sibh`	`nífidh sibh`	`nífeadh sibh`	`nígí`	`go ní sibh`	`dá níodh sibh`
3rd Pl.	`níonn siad`	`níodar`	`nídís`	`nífidh siad`	`nífidís`	`nídís`	`go ní siad`	`dá nídís`
Auto.	`nitear`	`níodh`	`nití`	`nífear`	`nífí`	`nitear`	`go nitear`	`dá nití`
Relative	`a níos`	—	—	`a nífeas`	—	—	—	—