HeyRuaHow to say “to be able” in Irish
- Irish:
- féad
- English:
- to be able, may, should
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- féadachtáil (ag féadachtáil, being able)
- Pronunciation:
- “fayd” /fʲeːd̪ˠ/
What does “féad” mean?
“Féad” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to be able
- To be able to do something; used with a verbal noun, like 'can' or 'could'.Also: can, could, manage.
2 other meanings: may or should
- 2to may
- To be allowed or possibly do something; expresses permission or possibility, like 'may' or 'might'.Also: might, be allowed, be permitted.
- 3to should
- In the conditional, can express what one ought to do, like 'should' or 'might as well'.Also: ought to, might as well.
“Féad” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'fhéad méI was able | Níor fhéad méI was not able | Ar fhéad mé?Was I able? |
| tú (you) | D'fhéad túYou were able | Níor fhéad túYou were not able | Ar fhéad tú?Were you able? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'fhéad sé / síHe was able | Níor fhéad sé / síHe was not able | Ar fhéad sé / sí?Was he able? |
| sinn (we) | D'fhéadamarWe were able | Níor fhéadamarWe were not able | Ar fhéadamar?Were we able? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'fhéad sibhYou were able | Níor fhéad sibhYou were not able | Ar fhéad sibh?Were you able? |
| siad (they) | D'fhéad siadThey were able | Níor fhéad siadThey were not able | Ar fhéad siad?Were they able? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Féadadh | Níor féadadh | Ar féadadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | FéadaimI am able | Ní fhéadaimI am not able | An bhféadaim?Am I able? |
| tú (you) | Féadann túYou are able | Ní fhéadann túYou are not able | An bhféadann tú?Are you able? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Féadann sé / síHe is able | Ní fhéadann sé / síHe is not able | An bhféadann sé / sí?Is he able? |
| sinn (we) | FéadaimidWe are able | Ní fhéadaimidWe are not able | An bhféadaimid?Are we able? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Féadann sibhYou are able | Ní fhéadann sibhYou are not able | An bhféadann sibh?Are you able? |
| siad (they) | Féadann siadThey are able | Ní fhéadann siadThey are not able | An bhféadann siad?Are they able? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Féadtar | Ní fhéadtar | An bhféadtar? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Féadfaidh méI will be able | Ní fhéadfaidh méI will not be able | An bhféadfaidh mé?Will I be able? |
| tú (you) | Féadfaidh túYou will be able | Ní fhéadfaidh túYou will not be able | An bhféadfaidh tú?Will you be able? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Féadfaidh sé / síHe will be able | Ní fhéadfaidh sé / síHe will not be able | An bhféadfaidh sé / sí?Will he be able? |
| sinn (we) | FéadfaimidWe will be able | Ní fhéadfaimidWe will not be able | An bhféadfaimid?Will we be able? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Féadfaidh sibhYou will be able | Ní fhéadfaidh sibhYou will not be able | An bhféadfaidh sibh?Will you be able? |
| siad (they) | Féadfaidh siadThey will be able | Ní fhéadfaidh siadThey will not be able | An bhféadfaidh siad?Will they be able? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Féadfar | Ní fhéadfar | An bhféadfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'fhéadfainnI would be able | Ní fhéadfainnI would not be able | An bhféadfainn?Would I be able? |
| tú (you) | D'fhéadfáYou would be able | Ní fhéadfáYou would not be able | An bhféadfá?Would you be able? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'fhéadfadh sé / síHe would be able | Ní fhéadfadh sé / síHe would not be able | An bhféadfadh sé / sí?Would he be able? |
| sinn (we) | D'fhéadfaimisWe would be able | Ní fhéadfaimisWe would not be able | An bhféadfaimis?Would we be able? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'fhéadfadh sibhYou would be able | Ní fhéadfadh sibhYou would not be able | An bhféadfadh sibh?Would you be able? |
| siad (they) | D'fhéadfaidísThey would be able | Ní fhéadfaidísThey would not be able | An bhféadfaidís?Would they be able? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | D'fhéadfaí | Ní fhéadfaí | An bhféadfaí? |
“Féad” 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 be able in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to be able?
The Irish for to be able is féad (pronounced “fayd”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is féadachtáil.
What is the verbal noun of féad?
The verbal noun of féad is féadachtáil, used after ag for the continuous: ag féadachtáil (being able).
How do you say féad in the past and the future?
Past: D'fhéad mé; negative Níor fhéad mé; question Ar fhéad mé?. Future: Féadfaidh mé; negative Ní fhéadfaidh mé; question An bhféadfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of féad?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is D'fhéadfainn (I would be able); negative Ní fhéadfainn; question An bhféadfainn?.
Does féad have more than one meaning?
Yes. Féad can mean to be able, to may or to should, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is 'féad' used in a sentence?
It is followed by a verbal noun clause: 'd'fhéadfainn é a dhéanamh' means 'I could do it'. With an intransitive verb the verbal noun follows directly: 'an bhféadfá fanacht?'.
What is the difference between 'féad' and 'is féidir'?
Both mean 'can'. 'Is féidir liom' is the most common everyday form, while 'féad' is a full verb used especially in the conditional, as in 'd'fhéadfadh sé báisteach'.
