HeyRuaHow to say “to start” in Irish
- Irish:
- geit
- English:
- to start, startle
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- geiteadh (ag geiteadh, starting)
- Verbal adjective:
- geite
- Pronunciation:
- “get” /ɟɛtʲ/
What does “geit” mean?
“Geit” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to start
- To jump or give a sudden movement because you are surprised or frightened.Also: jump, be startled, give a start, flinch.
1 other meaning: startle
“Geit” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Gheit méI started | Níor gheit méI did not start | Ar gheit mé?Did I start? |
| tú (you) | Gheit túYou started | Níor gheit túYou did not start | Ar gheit tú?Did you start? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Gheit sé / síHe started | Níor gheit sé / síHe did not start | Ar gheit sé / sí?Did he start? |
| sinn (we) | GheiteamarWe started | Níor gheiteamarWe did not start | Ar gheiteamar?Did we start? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Gheit sibhYou started | Níor gheit sibhYou did not start | Ar gheit sibh?Did you start? |
| siad (they) | Gheit siadThey started | Níor gheit siadThey did not start | Ar gheit siad?Did they start? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Geiteadh | Níor geiteadh | Ar geiteadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | GeitimI start | Ní gheitimI do not start | An ngeitim?Do I start? |
| tú (you) | Geiteann túYou start | Ní gheiteann túYou do not start | An ngeiteann tú?Do you start? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Geiteann sé / síHe starts | Ní gheiteann sé / síHe does not start | An ngeiteann sé / sí?Does he start? |
| sinn (we) | GeitimidWe start | Ní gheitimidWe do not start | An ngeitimid?Do we start? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Geiteann sibhYou start | Ní gheiteann sibhYou do not start | An ngeiteann sibh?Do you start? |
| siad (they) | Geiteann siadThey start | Ní gheiteann siadThey do not start | An ngeiteann siad?Do they start? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Geitear | Ní gheitear | An ngeitear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Geitfidh méI will start | Ní gheitfidh méI will not start | An ngeitfidh mé?Will I start? |
| tú (you) | Geitfidh túYou will start | Ní gheitfidh túYou will not start | An ngeitfidh tú?Will you start? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Geitfidh sé / síHe will start | Ní gheitfidh sé / síHe will not start | An ngeitfidh sé / sí?Will he start? |
| sinn (we) | GeitfimidWe will start | Ní gheitfimidWe will not start | An ngeitfimid?Will we start? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Geitfidh sibhYou will start | Ní gheitfidh sibhYou will not start | An ngeitfidh sibh?Will you start? |
| siad (they) | Geitfidh siadThey will start | Ní gheitfidh siadThey will not start | An ngeitfidh siad?Will they start? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Geitfear | Ní gheitfear | An ngeitfear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | GheitfinnI would start | Ní gheitfinnI would not start | An ngeitfinn?Would I start? |
| tú (you) | GheitfeáYou would start | Ní gheitfeáYou would not start | An ngeitfeá?Would you start? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Gheitfeadh sé / síHe would start | Ní gheitfeadh sé / síHe would not start | An ngeitfeadh sé / sí?Would he start? |
| sinn (we) | GheitfimisWe would start | Ní gheitfimisWe would not start | An ngeitfimis?Would we start? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Gheitfeadh sibhYou would start | Ní gheitfeadh sibhYou would not start | An ngeitfeadh sibh?Would you start? |
| siad (they) | GheitfidísThey would start | Ní gheitfidísThey would not start | An ngeitfidís?Would they start? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Gheitfí | Ní gheitfí | An ngeitfí? |
“Geit” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Gheit sí nuair a bhuail an fón.
She jumped when the phone rang.
Geiteann an capall ar an torann is lú.
The horse starts at the slightest noise.
Geitfidh sé má labhraíonn tú go hard.
He will jump if you speak loudly.
Gheitfeadh duine ar bith leis an bpléasc sin.
Anyone would jump at that bang.
Níor gheit an madra in aon chor.
The dog did not flinch at all.
Ar gheit tú nuair a d'oscail an doras?
Did you jump when the door opened?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To start in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to start?
The Irish for to start is geit (pronounced “get”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is geiteadh.
What is the verbal noun of geit?
The verbal noun of geit is geiteadh, used after ag for the continuous: ag geiteadh (starting). The verbal adjective is geite.
How do you say geit in the past and the future?
Past: Gheit mé; negative Níor gheit mé; question Ar gheit mé?. Future: Geitfidh mé; negative Ní gheitfidh mé; question An ngeitfidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of geit?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Gheitfinn (I would start); negative Ní gheitfinn; question An ngeitfinn?.
Does geit have more than one meaning?
Yes. Geit can mean to start or to startle, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'he gave me a fright' with this word?
You can use the noun: 'Bhain sé geit asam', literally 'he took a start out of me'. The verb 'gheit mé' means 'I jumped' or 'I was startled'.
