HeyRuaHow to say “to chew” in Irish
- Irish:
- cogain
- English:
- to chew, gnaw
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- cogaint (ag cogaint, chewing)
- Verbal adjective:
- coganta
- Pronunciation:
- “KUG-in” /ˈkɔɡənʲ/
What does “cogain” mean?
“Cogain” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to chew
- To crush food or something else with your teeth.Also: masticate, munch.
1 other meaning: gnaw
- 2to gnaw
- To bite at something repeatedly, or figuratively to brood over or ruminate on something.Also: ruminate, mull over.
“Cogain” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Chogain méI chewed | Níor chogain méI did not chew | Ar chogain mé?Did I chew? |
| tú (you) | Chogain túYou chewed | Níor chogain túYou did not chew | Ar chogain tú?Did you chew? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chogain sé / síHe chewed | Níor chogain sé / síHe did not chew | Ar chogain sé / sí?Did he chew? |
| sinn (we) | ChognaíomarWe chewed | Níor chognaíomarWe did not chew | Ar chognaíomar?Did we chew? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chogain sibhYou chewed | Níor chogain sibhYou did not chew | Ar chogain sibh?Did you chew? |
| siad (they) | Chogain siadThey chewed | Níor chogain siadThey did not chew | Ar chogain siad?Did they chew? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cognaíodh | Níor cognaíodh | Ar cognaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CognaímI chew | Ní chognaímI do not chew | An gcognaím?Do I chew? |
| tú (you) | Cognaíonn túYou chew | Ní chognaíonn túYou do not chew | An gcognaíonn tú?Do you chew? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cognaíonn sé / síHe chews | Ní chognaíonn sé / síHe does not chew | An gcognaíonn sé / sí?Does he chew? |
| sinn (we) | CognaímidWe chew | Ní chognaímidWe do not chew | An gcognaímid?Do we chew? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cognaíonn sibhYou chew | Ní chognaíonn sibhYou do not chew | An gcognaíonn sibh?Do you chew? |
| siad (they) | Cognaíonn siadThey chew | Ní chognaíonn siadThey do not chew | An gcognaíonn siad?Do they chew? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cognaítear | Ní chognaítear | An gcognaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Cognóidh méI will chew | Ní chognóidh méI will not chew | An gcognóidh mé?Will I chew? |
| tú (you) | Cognóidh túYou will chew | Ní chognóidh túYou will not chew | An gcognóidh tú?Will you chew? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cognóidh sé / síHe will chew | Ní chognóidh sé / síHe will not chew | An gcognóidh sé / sí?Will he chew? |
| sinn (we) | CognóimidWe will chew | Ní chognóimidWe will not chew | An gcognóimid?Will we chew? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cognóidh sibhYou will chew | Ní chognóidh sibhYou will not chew | An gcognóidh sibh?Will you chew? |
| siad (they) | Cognóidh siadThey will chew | Ní chognóidh siadThey will not chew | An gcognóidh siad?Will they chew? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cognófar | Ní chognófar | An gcognófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChognóinnI would chew | Ní chognóinnI would not chew | An gcognóinn?Would I chew? |
| tú (you) | ChognófáYou would chew | Ní chognófáYou would not chew | An gcognófá?Would you chew? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chognódh sé / síHe would chew | Ní chognódh sé / síHe would not chew | An gcognódh sé / sí?Would he chew? |
| sinn (we) | ChognóimisWe would chew | Ní chognóimisWe would not chew | An gcognóimis?Would we chew? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chognódh sibhYou would chew | Ní chognódh sibhYou would not chew | An gcognódh sibh?Would you chew? |
| siad (they) | ChognóidísThey would chew | Ní chognóidísThey would not chew | An gcognóidís?Would they chew? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Chognófaí | Ní chognófaí | An gcognófaí? |
“Cogain” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Chogain an madra an bhróg go léir.
The dog chewed the whole shoe.
Cognaíonn sé guma i rith an ranga.
He chews gum during class.
Cognóidh tú an fheoil níos fearr leis na fiacla nua.
You will chew the meat better with the new teeth.
Chognódh sí a hingne dá mbeadh imní uirthi.
She would chew her nails if she were worried.
Níor chogain sé an bia i gceart.
He didn't chew the food properly.
Ar chogain tú an fheoil i gceart?
Did you chew the meat properly?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To chew in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to chew?
The Irish for to chew is cogain (pronounced “KUG-in”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is cogaint.
What is the verbal noun of cogain?
The verbal noun of cogain is cogaint, used after ag for the continuous: ag cogaint (chewing). The verbal adjective is coganta.
How do you say cogain in the past and the future?
Past: Chogain mé; negative Níor chogain mé; question Ar chogain mé?. Future: Cognóidh mé; negative Ní chognóidh mé; question An gcognóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of cogain?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Chognóinn (I would chew); negative Ní chognóinn; question An gcognóinn?.
Does cogain have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cogain can mean to chew or to gnaw, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'cogain' and 'creim'?
'Cogain' means to chew food with your teeth, while 'creim' means to gnaw or nibble away at something, as a mouse does.
