HeyRuaHow to say “question” in Irish
- Irish:
- ceist
- English:
- question, issue, concern
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, second declension
- Pronunciation:
- “kesht” /cɛʃtʲ/
- Plural:
- ceisteanna (questions)
- Genitive singular:
- ceiste, na ceiste (e.g. freagra na ceiste, the answer to the question)
- Genitive plural:
- ceisteanna, na gceisteanna (e.g. liosta na gceisteanna, the list of questions)
What does “ceist” mean?
“Ceist” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- question
- Something you ask in order to get information or an answer.Also: query, inquiry.
2 other meanings: issue or concern
- 2issue
- A matter or problem that needs to be discussed or settled.Also: matter, problem, question.
- 3concern
- A cause of worry or anxiety, as in 'is ceist orm é' (I am worried about it).Also: worry, anxiety.
Other Irish words for question: ceistigh (question)
“Ceist” with the article
The plural of question in Irish is ceisteanna. Here is ceist after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Ceist” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using ceist, the Irish word for question.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Question in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for question?
The Irish for question is ceist (pronounced “kesht”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is ceisteanna. Depending on context it can also mean issue or concern.
How do you pronounce ceist in Irish?
Ceist is said like “kesht” (IPA /cɛʃtʲ/).
What is the plural of question in Irish?
The plural of ceist is ceisteanna; with the article, na ceisteanna means “the questions”. The genitive plural is ceisteanna, as in liosta na gceisteanna (the list of questions).
Does ceist have more than one meaning?
Yes. Ceist can mean question, issue or concern, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does ceist change to cheist or gceist?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) ceist becomes mo cheist (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár gceist (eclipsis).
How do I say 'ask a question' in Irish?
Use 'ceist a chur ar dhuine', for example 'Chuir mé ceist ar an múinteoir' (I asked the teacher a question).
What does 'Is ceist orm é' mean?
It means 'I am worried about it' or 'it is a concern to me', a common idiomatic use of ceist.
