HeyRuaHow to say “to help” in Irish
- Irish:
- cabhraigh
- English:
- to help
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- cabhrú (ag cabhrú, helping)
- Verbal adjective:
- cabhraithe
- Pronunciation:
- “KOW-ree” /ˈkəuɾˠəɟ/
What does “cabhraigh” mean?
- to help
- To give assistance or support to someone, used with 'le' before the person helped.Also: assist, aid, support, give a hand.
Other Irish verbs for to help: cuidigh (help), fóir (help), cúnaigh (help)
“Cabhraigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Chabhraigh méI helped | Níor chabhraigh méI did not help | Ar chabhraigh mé?Did I help? |
| tú (you) | Chabhraigh túYou helped | Níor chabhraigh túYou did not help | Ar chabhraigh tú?Did you help? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chabhraigh sé / síHe helped | Níor chabhraigh sé / síHe did not help | Ar chabhraigh sé / sí?Did he help? |
| sinn (we) | ChabhraíomarWe helped | Níor chabhraíomarWe did not help | Ar chabhraíomar?Did we help? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chabhraigh sibhYou helped | Níor chabhraigh sibhYou did not help | Ar chabhraigh sibh?Did you help? |
| siad (they) | Chabhraigh siadThey helped | Níor chabhraigh siadThey did not help | Ar chabhraigh siad?Did they help? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cabhraíodh | Níor cabhraíodh | Ar cabhraíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CabhraímI help | Ní chabhraímI do not help | An gcabhraím?Do I help? |
| tú (you) | Cabhraíonn túYou help | Ní chabhraíonn túYou do not help | An gcabhraíonn tú?Do you help? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cabhraíonn sé / síHe helps | Ní chabhraíonn sé / síHe does not help | An gcabhraíonn sé / sí?Does he help? |
| sinn (we) | CabhraímidWe help | Ní chabhraímidWe do not help | An gcabhraímid?Do we help? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cabhraíonn sibhYou help | Ní chabhraíonn sibhYou do not help | An gcabhraíonn sibh?Do you help? |
| siad (they) | Cabhraíonn siadThey help | Ní chabhraíonn siadThey do not help | An gcabhraíonn siad?Do they help? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cabhraítear | Ní chabhraítear | An gcabhraítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Cabhróidh méI will help | Ní chabhróidh méI will not help | An gcabhróidh mé?Will I help? |
| tú (you) | Cabhróidh túYou will help | Ní chabhróidh túYou will not help | An gcabhróidh tú?Will you help? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cabhróidh sé / síHe will help | Ní chabhróidh sé / síHe will not help | An gcabhróidh sé / sí?Will he help? |
| sinn (we) | CabhróimidWe will help | Ní chabhróimidWe will not help | An gcabhróimid?Will we help? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cabhróidh sibhYou will help | Ní chabhróidh sibhYou will not help | An gcabhróidh sibh?Will you help? |
| siad (they) | Cabhróidh siadThey will help | Ní chabhróidh siadThey will not help | An gcabhróidh siad?Will they help? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cabhrófar | Ní chabhrófar | An gcabhrófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChabhróinnI would help | Ní chabhróinnI would not help | An gcabhróinn?Would I help? |
| tú (you) | ChabhrófáYou would help | Ní chabhrófáYou would not help | An gcabhrófá?Would you help? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chabhródh sé / síHe would help | Ní chabhródh sé / síHe would not help | An gcabhródh sé / sí?Would he help? |
| sinn (we) | ChabhróimisWe would help | Ní chabhróimisWe would not help | An gcabhróimis?Would we help? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chabhródh sibhYou would help | Ní chabhródh sibhYou would not help | An gcabhródh sibh?Would you help? |
| siad (they) | ChabhróidísThey would help | Ní chabhróidísThey would not help | An gcabhróidís?Would they help? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Chabhrófaí | Ní chabhrófaí | An gcabhrófaí? |
“Cabhraigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Chabhraigh mo dheartháir liom leis an obair bhaile.
My brother helped me with the homework.
Cabhraíonn sí lena máthair sa chistin gach lá.
She helps her mother in the kitchen every day.
Cabhróidh mé leat amárach.
I will help you tomorrow.
Chabhródh sé leat dá n-iarrfá air.
He would help you if you asked him.
Níor chabhraigh aon duine linn.
Nobody helped us.
Ar chabhraigh tú leis an múinteoir?
Did you help the teacher?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To help in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to help?
The Irish for to help is cabhraigh (pronounced “KOW-ree”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is cabhrú.
What is the verbal noun of cabhraigh?
The verbal noun of cabhraigh is cabhrú, used after ag for the continuous: ag cabhrú (helping). The verbal adjective is cabhraithe.
How do you say cabhraigh in the past and the future?
Past: Chabhraigh mé; negative Níor chabhraigh mé; question Ar chabhraigh mé?. Future: Cabhróidh mé; negative Ní chabhróidh mé; question An gcabhróidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of cabhraigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Chabhróinn (I would help); negative Ní chabhróinn; question An gcabhróinn?.
Which preposition does 'cabhraigh' take?
It takes 'le': 'Cabhraigh liom' means 'Help me', and 'cabhrú le daoine' means 'helping people'.
What is the difference between 'cabhraigh' and 'cuidigh'?
Both mean 'help' and both take 'le'; 'cuidigh le' is especially common in Ulster and Connacht, while 'cabhraigh le' is widespread and standard.
