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Predicament in Irish (Faopach): Meaning, Pronunciation, Usage

The Irish for predicament is faopach, a masculine noun (plural faopaigh).
Updated October 2026Report a mistake

How to say “predicament” in Irish

Irish:
faopach
English:
predicament
Word type:
noun
Gender:
masculine, first declension
Pronunciation:
“FEE-pukh”  /ˈfˠiːpˠəx/
Various forms
Plural:
faopaigh (predicaments)
Genitive singular:
faopaigh, an fhaopaigh (e.g. deireadh an fhaopaigh, the end of the predicament)
Genitive plural:
faopach, na bhfaopach (e.g. scéalta na bhfaopach, the stories of the predicaments)

What does “faopach” mean?

predicament
A difficult or awkward situation that is hard to get out of, used mainly in the phrase 'i bhfaopach', in a fix.Also: fix, tight corner, plight, difficulty, jam.

Other Irish words for predicament: sáinn (predicament), cruachás (predicament)

“Faopach” with the article

The plural of predicament in Irish is faopaigh. Here is faopach after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.

an faopach
the predicament
No change after an
na faopaigh
the predicaments
Plural: no change after na

“Faopach” in a sentence: Irish examples

Common Irish sentences using faopach, the Irish word for predicament.

Bhí mé i bhfaopach nuair a chaill mé an eochair.
I was in a fix when I lost the key.
Ná fág i bhfaopach mé, le do thoil.
Please don't leave me in the lurch.
Tá an rialtas i bhfaopach mar gheall ar an mbuiséad.
The government is in a tight spot over the budget.
Chuidigh sí liom teacht as an bhfaopach.
She helped me get out of the predicament.
Ba mhór an faopach a bhí orainn an oíche sin.
We were in a real fix that night.
Bhí siad i bhfaopach ar an sliabh sa stoirm.
They were in difficulty on the mountain in the storm.
Is minic a bhí sé i bhfaopach.
He has often been in a tight corner.

Other nouns in Irish

More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.

Predicament in Irish: frequently asked questions

What is the Irish for predicament?

The Irish for predicament is faopach (pronounced “FEE-pukh”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is faopaigh.

How do you pronounce faopach in Irish?

Faopach is said like “FEE-pukh” (IPA /ˈfˠiːpˠəx/).

What is the plural of predicament in Irish?

The plural of faopach is faopaigh; with the article, na faopaigh means “the predicaments”. The genitive plural is faopach, as in scéalta na bhfaopach (the stories of the predicaments).

Why does faopach change to fhaopach or bhfaopach?

Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) faopach becomes m'fhaopach (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár bhfaopach (eclipsis).

How is 'faopach' usually used?

Almost always in the phrase 'i bhfaopach', as in 'Tá mé i bhfaopach', I'm in a fix.

How does 'faopach' differ from 'sáinn' or 'cruachás'?

All three mean a tight spot; 'i sáinn' and 'i gcruachás' are very close in meaning to 'i bhfaopach' and are often interchangeable.

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