HeyRuaHow to say “to answer” in Irish
- Irish:
- freagair
- English:
- to answer, suit, respond
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- freagairt (ag freagairt, answering)
- Verbal adjective:
- freagartha
- Pronunciation:
- “FRAG-er” /ˈfʲɾʲaɡəɾʲ/
What does “freagair” mean?
“Freagair” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to answer
- To give a reply to a question, letter, call or person.Also: reply, respond.
2 other meanings: suit or respond
- 2to suit
- To be suitable or convenient for someone or something (with 'do').Also: be suitable for, serve.
- 3to respond
- To react or respond to something, such as a treatment or a control.Also: react, answer to.
“Freagair” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'fhreagair méI answered | Níor fhreagair méI did not answer | Ar fhreagair mé?Did I answer? |
| tú (you) | D'fhreagair túYou answered | Níor fhreagair túYou did not answer | Ar fhreagair tú?Did you answer? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'fhreagair sé / síHe answered | Níor fhreagair sé / síHe did not answer | Ar fhreagair sé / sí?Did he answer? |
| sinn (we) | D'fhreagraíomarWe answered | Níor fhreagraíomarWe did not answer | Ar fhreagraíomar?Did we answer? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'fhreagair sibhYou answered | Níor fhreagair sibhYou did not answer | Ar fhreagair sibh?Did you answer? |
| siad (they) | D'fhreagair siadThey answered | Níor fhreagair siadThey did not answer | Ar fhreagair siad?Did they answer? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Freagraíodh | Níor freagraíodh | Ar freagraíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | FreagraímI answer | Ní fhreagraímI do not answer | An bhfreagraím?Do I answer? |
| tú (you) | Freagraíonn túYou answer | Ní fhreagraíonn túYou do not answer | An bhfreagraíonn tú?Do you answer? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Freagraíonn sé / síHe answers | Ní fhreagraíonn sé / síHe does not answer | An bhfreagraíonn sé / sí?Does he answer? |
| sinn (we) | FreagraímidWe answer | Ní fhreagraímidWe do not answer | An bhfreagraímid?Do we answer? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Freagraíonn sibhYou answer | Ní fhreagraíonn sibhYou do not answer | An bhfreagraíonn sibh?Do you answer? |
| siad (they) | Freagraíonn siadThey answer | Ní fhreagraíonn siadThey do not answer | An bhfreagraíonn siad?Do they answer? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Freagraítear | Ní fhreagraítear | An bhfreagraítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Freagróidh méI will answer | Ní fhreagróidh méI will not answer | An bhfreagróidh mé?Will I answer? |
| tú (you) | Freagróidh túYou will answer | Ní fhreagróidh túYou will not answer | An bhfreagróidh tú?Will you answer? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Freagróidh sé / síHe will answer | Ní fhreagróidh sé / síHe will not answer | An bhfreagróidh sé / sí?Will he answer? |
| sinn (we) | FreagróimidWe will answer | Ní fhreagróimidWe will not answer | An bhfreagróimid?Will we answer? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Freagróidh sibhYou will answer | Ní fhreagróidh sibhYou will not answer | An bhfreagróidh sibh?Will you answer? |
| siad (they) | Freagróidh siadThey will answer | Ní fhreagróidh siadThey will not answer | An bhfreagróidh siad?Will they answer? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Freagrófar | Ní fhreagrófar | An bhfreagrófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'fhreagróinnI would answer | Ní fhreagróinnI would not answer | An bhfreagróinn?Would I answer? |
| tú (you) | D'fhreagrófáYou would answer | Ní fhreagrófáYou would not answer | An bhfreagrófá?Would you answer? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'fhreagródh sé / síHe would answer | Ní fhreagródh sé / síHe would not answer | An bhfreagródh sé / sí?Would he answer? |
| sinn (we) | D'fhreagróimisWe would answer | Ní fhreagróimisWe would not answer | An bhfreagróimis?Would we answer? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'fhreagródh sibhYou would answer | Ní fhreagródh sibhYou would not answer | An bhfreagródh sibh?Would you answer? |
| siad (they) | D'fhreagróidísThey would answer | Ní fhreagróidísThey would not answer | An bhfreagróidís?Would they answer? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | D'fhreagrófaí | Ní fhreagrófaí | An bhfreagrófaí? |
“Freagair” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
D'fhreagair sí na ceisteanna go léir.
She answered all the questions.
Freagraíonn sé an fón gach maidin.
He answers the phone every morning.
Freagróidh mé do litir amárach.
I will answer your letter tomorrow.
D'fhreagródh sí thú dá gcuirfeá ceist uirthi.
She would answer you if you asked her.
Níor fhreagair aon duine an doras.
Nobody answered the door.
Ar fhreagair tú an ríomhphost fós?
Did you answer the email yet?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To answer in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to answer?
The Irish for to answer is freagair (pronounced “FRAG-er”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is freagairt.
What is the verbal noun of freagair?
The verbal noun of freagair is freagairt, used after ag for the continuous: ag freagairt (answering). The verbal adjective is freagartha.
How do you say freagair in the past and the future?
Past: D'fhreagair mé; negative Níor fhreagair mé; question Ar fhreagair mé?. Future: Freagróidh mé; negative Ní fhreagróidh mé; question An bhfreagróidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of freagair?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is D'fhreagróinn (I would answer); negative Ní fhreagróinn; question An bhfreagróinn?.
Does freagair have more than one meaning?
Yes. Freagair can mean to answer, to suit or to respond, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say something suits me with 'freagair'?
Use 'freagair do': 'Freagraíonn sé sin dom' means 'That suits me'.
Is there a noun for 'answer'?
Yes, the noun is 'freagra', as in 'Ní bhfuair mé freagra' (I didn't get an answer).
