HeyRuaHow to say “to help” in Irish
- Irish:
- fóir
- English:
- to help, suit
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- fóirithint (ag fóirithint, helping)
- Verbal adjective:
- fóirthe
- Pronunciation:
- “fohr” /fˠoːɾʲ/
What does “fóir” mean?
“Fóir” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to help
- To come to the aid of someone in difficulty or distress (used with 'ar').Also: succour, relieve, rescue, save.
“Fóir” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'fhóir méI helped | Níor fhóir méI did not help | Ar fhóir mé?Did I help? |
| tú (you) | D'fhóir túYou helped | Níor fhóir túYou did not help | Ar fhóir tú?Did you help? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'fhóir sé / síHe helped | Níor fhóir sé / síHe did not help | Ar fhóir sé / sí?Did he help? |
| sinn (we) | D'fhóireamarWe helped | Níor fhóireamarWe did not help | Ar fhóireamar?Did we help? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'fhóir sibhYou helped | Níor fhóir sibhYou did not help | Ar fhóir sibh?Did you help? |
| siad (they) | D'fhóir siadThey helped | Níor fhóir siadThey did not help | Ar fhóir siad?Did they help? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Fóireadh | Níor fóireadh | Ar fóireadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | FóirimI help | Ní fhóirimI do not help | An bhfóirim?Do I help? |
| tú (you) | Fóireann túYou help | Ní fhóireann túYou do not help | An bhfóireann tú?Do you help? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Fóireann sé / síHe helps | Ní fhóireann sé / síHe does not help | An bhfóireann sé / sí?Does he help? |
| sinn (we) | FóirimidWe help | Ní fhóirimidWe do not help | An bhfóirimid?Do we help? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Fóireann sibhYou help | Ní fhóireann sibhYou do not help | An bhfóireann sibh?Do you help? |
| siad (they) | Fóireann siadThey help | Ní fhóireann siadThey do not help | An bhfóireann siad?Do they help? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Fóirtear | Ní fhóirtear | An bhfóirtear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Fóirfidh méI will help | Ní fhóirfidh méI will not help | An bhfóirfidh mé?Will I help? |
| tú (you) | Fóirfidh túYou will help | Ní fhóirfidh túYou will not help | An bhfóirfidh tú?Will you help? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Fóirfidh sé / síHe will help | Ní fhóirfidh sé / síHe will not help | An bhfóirfidh sé / sí?Will he help? |
| sinn (we) | FóirfimidWe will help | Ní fhóirfimidWe will not help | An bhfóirfimid?Will we help? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Fóirfidh sibhYou will help | Ní fhóirfidh sibhYou will not help | An bhfóirfidh sibh?Will you help? |
| siad (they) | Fóirfidh siadThey will help | Ní fhóirfidh siadThey will not help | An bhfóirfidh siad?Will they help? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Fóirfear | Ní fhóirfear | An bhfóirfear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'fhóirfinnI would help | Ní fhóirfinnI would not help | An bhfóirfinn?Would I help? |
| tú (you) | D'fhóirfeáYou would help | Ní fhóirfeáYou would not help | An bhfóirfeá?Would you help? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'fhóirfeadh sé / síHe would help | Ní fhóirfeadh sé / síHe would not help | An bhfóirfeadh sé / sí?Would he help? |
| sinn (we) | D'fhóirfimisWe would help | Ní fhóirfimisWe would not help | An bhfóirfimis?Would we help? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'fhóirfeadh sibhYou would help | Ní fhóirfeadh sibhYou would not help | An bhfóirfeadh sibh?Would you help? |
| siad (they) | D'fhóirfidísThey would help | Ní fhóirfidísThey would not help | An bhfóirfidís?Would they help? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | D'fhóirfí | Ní fhóirfí | An bhfóirfí? |
“Fóir” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
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 fóir (pronounced “fohr”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is fóirithint.
What is the verbal noun of fóir?
The verbal noun of fóir is fóirithint, used after ag for the continuous: ag fóirithint (helping). The verbal adjective is fóirthe.
How do you say fóir in the past and the future?
Past: D'fhóir mé; negative Níor fhóir mé; question Ar fhóir mé?. Future: Fóirfidh mé; negative Ní fhóirfidh mé; question An bhfóirfidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of fóir?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is D'fhóirfinn (I would help); negative Ní fhóirfinn; question An bhfóirfinn?.
Does fóir have more than one meaning?
Yes. Fóir can mean to help or to suit, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Which preposition does 'fóir' take?
With 'ar' it means to help or relieve: 'fóir orm' (help me). With 'do' it means to suit: 'fóireann sé duit' (it suits you).
How is 'fóir' different from 'oir'?
Both can mean to suit, 'oireann sé duit' being more common in speech, but only 'fóir ar' means to help or rescue someone.
