riamh

Irish

Alternative forms

• ariamh

Etymology

From Middle Irish ríam, from Old Irish rïam.

Pronunciation

• (Munster) IPA^(key): /ɾˠiəvˠ/
• (Connacht, Ulster) IPA^(key): /ɾˠiəw/

Adverb

riamh

1. (literary) before
2. ever
3. (with negative) never

   Synonym: go deo

Derived terms

• riamh agus choíche

Further reading

• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “riamh”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
• de Bhaldraithe, Tomás (1959) “riamh”, in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm
• “riamh”, in New English-Irish Dictionary, Foras na Gaeilge, 2013-2024

Scottish Gaelic

Alternative forms

• a-riamh

Etymology

From Middle Irish ríam, from Old Irish rïam.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈrˠiəv/

Adverb

riamh

1. ever

   An robh thu ann riamh? ― Have you ever been there?

2. never

   Cha robh riamh a leithid ann. ― There was never one like him.

3. always

   Bha e riamh mar sin. ― He was always like that.

   riamh is roimhe ― still and before, abidingly

Usage notes

• Used only of past time.

Noun

riamh f

1. series, number
2. a drill of potatoes or turnips
3. duration

Verb

riamh (past riamh, future riamhaidh, verbal noun riamhadh, past participle riamhte)

1. drill (as turnips, potatoes, etc.)

Further reading

• Edward Dwelly (1911) “riamh”, in Faclair Gàidhlig gu Beurla le Dealbhan [The Illustrated Gaelic–English Dictionary]‎^[1], 10th edition, Edinburgh: Birlinn Limited, →ISBN
• MacLennan, Malcolm (1925) A Pronouncing and Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language, Edinburgh: J. Grant, →OCLC