Commands and Requests in Irish: Suigh Síos, Éist and Oscail an Doras
Learn how to give simple instructions in Irish, including singular and plural commands, negative commands and polite requests.
Commands are simple in Irish: use the verb stem, and add an ending for more than one person. They are also very useful in the classroom.
Singular commands
The singular command is just the verb stem:
| Irish | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Suigh síos. | Sit down. |
| Seas suas. | Stand up. |
| Éist. | Listen. |
| Oscail an doras. | Open the door. |
| Dún an doras. | Close the door. |
| Tar anseo. | Come here. |
| Téigh abhaile. | Go home. |
| Fan. | Wait. |
| Abair é. | Say it. |
| Bí cúramach. | Be careful. |
Plural commands
To speak to more than one person, add an ending such as -igí or -ígí, so éist becomes éistigí:
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| Suigh | Suígí |
| Éist | Éistigí |
| Seas | Seasaigí |
Examples:
- Suígí síos. — Sit down (to a group).
- Éistigí leis an múinteoir. — Listen to the teacher.
Making requests polite
Add le do thoil ("please") to soften a command:
- Oscail an fhuinneog, le do thoil. — Open the window, please.
Negative commands
Use ná before the verb:
- Ná habair é sin. — Don't say that.
- Ná bí déanach. — Don't be late.
Classroom phrases
- Oscail do leabhar. — Open your book.
- Léigh an abairt. — Read the sentence.
- Abair arís é. — Say it again.
Common mistakes
- Adding a pronoun after the command (Irish doesn't need one).
- Using the singular with a group.
- Forgetting the fada in suígí.
Tips
- Practise with classroom instructions.
- Learn the plural endings.
- Use the dictionary for the command form of new verbs.
English Irish Dictionary
Offline English–Irish (Gaeilge) dictionary with clear, accurate meanings
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