HeyRuaHow to say “to back” in Irish
- Irish:
- baiceáil
- English:
- to back
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- baiceáil (ag baiceáil, backing)
- Verbal adjective:
- baiceáilte
- Pronunciation:
- “BAK-yawl” /bakʲaːlʲ/
What does “baiceáil” mean?
- to back
- To move a vehicle or animal backwards.Also: reverse, back up, move backwards.
Other Irish verbs for to back: tacaigh (support), cúlaigh (back)
“Baiceáil” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Bhaiceáil méI backed | Níor bhaiceáil méI did not back | Ar bhaiceáil mé?Did I back? |
| tú (you) | Bhaiceáil túYou backed | Níor bhaiceáil túYou did not back | Ar bhaiceáil tú?Did you back? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bhaiceáil sé / síHe backed | Níor bhaiceáil sé / síHe did not back | Ar bhaiceáil sé / sí?Did he back? |
| sinn (we) | BhaiceálamarWe backed | Níor bhaiceálamarWe did not back | Ar bhaiceálamar?Did we back? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bhaiceáil sibhYou backed | Níor bhaiceáil sibhYou did not back | Ar bhaiceáil sibh?Did you back? |
| siad (they) | Bhaiceáil siadThey backed | Níor bhaiceáil siadThey did not back | Ar bhaiceáil siad?Did they back? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Baiceáladh | Níor baiceáladh | Ar baiceáladh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | BaiceálaimI back | Ní bhaiceálaimI do not back | An mbaiceálaim?Do I back? |
| tú (you) | Baiceálann túYou back | Ní bhaiceálann túYou do not back | An mbaiceálann tú?Do you back? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Baiceálann sé / síHe backs | Ní bhaiceálann sé / síHe does not back | An mbaiceálann sé / sí?Does he back? |
| sinn (we) | BaiceálaimidWe back | Ní bhaiceálaimidWe do not back | An mbaiceálaimid?Do we back? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Baiceálann sibhYou back | Ní bhaiceálann sibhYou do not back | An mbaiceálann sibh?Do you back? |
| siad (they) | Baiceálann siadThey back | Ní bhaiceálann siadThey do not back | An mbaiceálann siad?Do they back? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Baiceáiltear | Ní bhaiceáiltear | An mbaiceáiltear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Baiceálfaidh méI will back | Ní bhaiceálfaidh méI will not back | An mbaiceálfaidh mé?Will I back? |
| tú (you) | Baiceálfaidh túYou will back | Ní bhaiceálfaidh túYou will not back | An mbaiceálfaidh tú?Will you back? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Baiceálfaidh sé / síHe will back | Ní bhaiceálfaidh sé / síHe will not back | An mbaiceálfaidh sé / sí?Will he back? |
| sinn (we) | BaiceálfaimidWe will back | Ní bhaiceálfaimidWe will not back | An mbaiceálfaimid?Will we back? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Baiceálfaidh sibhYou will back | Ní bhaiceálfaidh sibhYou will not back | An mbaiceálfaidh sibh?Will you back? |
| siad (they) | Baiceálfaidh siadThey will back | Ní bhaiceálfaidh siadThey will not back | An mbaiceálfaidh siad?Will they back? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Baiceálfar | Ní bhaiceálfar | An mbaiceálfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | BhaiceálfainnI would back | Ní bhaiceálfainnI would not back | An mbaiceálfainn?Would I back? |
| tú (you) | BhaiceálfáYou would back | Ní bhaiceálfáYou would not back | An mbaiceálfá?Would you back? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bhaiceálfadh sé / síHe would back | Ní bhaiceálfadh sé / síHe would not back | An mbaiceálfadh sé / sí?Would he back? |
| sinn (we) | BhaiceálfaimisWe would back | Ní bhaiceálfaimisWe would not back | An mbaiceálfaimis?Would we back? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bhaiceálfadh sibhYou would back | Ní bhaiceálfadh sibhYou would not back | An mbaiceálfadh sibh?Would you back? |
| siad (they) | BhaiceálfaidísThey would back | Ní bhaiceálfaidísThey would not back | An mbaiceálfaidís?Would they back? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Bhaiceálfaí | Ní bhaiceálfaí | An mbaiceálfaí? |
“Baiceáil” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Bhaiceáil sé an carr isteach sa gharáiste.
He backed the car into the garage.
Baiceálann sí an leoraí go cúramach gach maidin.
She backs the lorry carefully every morning.
Baiceálfaidh mé an veain amach duit.
I'll back the van out for you.
Bhaiceálfainn an carr dá mbeadh spás ann.
I would back the car if there were room.
Níor bhaiceáil sé an tarracóir in am.
He didn't back the tractor in time.
Ar bhaiceáil tú an carr amach fós?
Did you back the car out yet?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To back in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to back?
The Irish for to back is baiceáil (pronounced “BAK-yawl”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is baiceáil.
What is the verbal noun of baiceáil?
The verbal noun of baiceáil is baiceáil, used after ag for the continuous: ag baiceáil (backing). The verbal adjective is baiceáilte.
How do you say baiceáil in the past and the future?
Past: Bhaiceáil mé; negative Níor bhaiceáil mé; question Ar bhaiceáil mé?. Future: Baiceálfaidh mé; negative Ní bhaiceálfaidh mé; question An mbaiceálfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of baiceáil?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Bhaiceálfainn (I would back); negative Ní bhaiceálfainn; question An mbaiceálfainn?.
Is there another Irish verb for reversing a car?
Yes, 'cúlaigh' also means to reverse or move back, e.g. 'chúlaigh sé an carr', while 'baiceáil' is a common borrowing from English 'back'.
