HeyRuaHow to say “to comb” in Irish
- Irish:
- cíor
- English:
- to comb, examine
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- cíoradh (ag cíoradh, combing)
- Verbal adjective:
- cíortha
- Pronunciation:
- “keer” /ciːɾˠ/
What does “cíor” mean?
“Cíor” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to comb
- To pass a comb through hair or wool to tidy or untangle it.Also: comb out, card, curry.
1 other meaning: examine
- 2to examine
- To go through a matter, question or text carefully and in detail.Also: discuss, scrutinise, thrash out, go through.
“Cíor” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Chíor méI combed | Níor chíor méI did not comb | Ar chíor mé?Did I comb? |
| tú (you) | Chíor túYou combed | Níor chíor túYou did not comb | Ar chíor tú?Did you comb? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chíor sé / síHe combed | Níor chíor sé / síHe did not comb | Ar chíor sé / sí?Did he comb? |
| sinn (we) | ChíoramarWe combed | Níor chíoramarWe did not comb | Ar chíoramar?Did we comb? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chíor sibhYou combed | Níor chíor sibhYou did not comb | Ar chíor sibh?Did you comb? |
| siad (they) | Chíor siadThey combed | Níor chíor siadThey did not comb | Ar chíor siad?Did they comb? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cíoradh | Níor cíoradh | Ar cíoradh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CíoraimI comb | Ní chíoraimI do not comb | An gcíoraim?Do I comb? |
| tú (you) | Cíorann túYou comb | Ní chíorann túYou do not comb | An gcíorann tú?Do you comb? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cíorann sé / síHe combs | Ní chíorann sé / síHe does not comb | An gcíorann sé / sí?Does he comb? |
| sinn (we) | CíoraimidWe comb | Ní chíoraimidWe do not comb | An gcíoraimid?Do we comb? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cíorann sibhYou comb | Ní chíorann sibhYou do not comb | An gcíorann sibh?Do you comb? |
| siad (they) | Cíorann siadThey comb | Ní chíorann siadThey do not comb | An gcíorann siad?Do they comb? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cíortar | Ní chíortar | An gcíortar? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Cíorfaidh méI will comb | Ní chíorfaidh méI will not comb | An gcíorfaidh mé?Will I comb? |
| tú (you) | Cíorfaidh túYou will comb | Ní chíorfaidh túYou will not comb | An gcíorfaidh tú?Will you comb? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cíorfaidh sé / síHe will comb | Ní chíorfaidh sé / síHe will not comb | An gcíorfaidh sé / sí?Will he comb? |
| sinn (we) | CíorfaimidWe will comb | Ní chíorfaimidWe will not comb | An gcíorfaimid?Will we comb? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cíorfaidh sibhYou will comb | Ní chíorfaidh sibhYou will not comb | An gcíorfaidh sibh?Will you comb? |
| siad (they) | Cíorfaidh siadThey will comb | Ní chíorfaidh siadThey will not comb | An gcíorfaidh siad?Will they comb? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cíorfar | Ní chíorfar | An gcíorfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChíorfainnI would comb | Ní chíorfainnI would not comb | An gcíorfainn?Would I comb? |
| tú (you) | ChíorfáYou would comb | Ní chíorfáYou would not comb | An gcíorfá?Would you comb? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chíorfadh sé / síHe would comb | Ní chíorfadh sé / síHe would not comb | An gcíorfadh sé / sí?Would he comb? |
| sinn (we) | ChíorfaimisWe would comb | Ní chíorfaimisWe would not comb | An gcíorfaimis?Would we comb? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chíorfadh sibhYou would comb | Ní chíorfadh sibhYou would not comb | An gcíorfadh sibh?Would you comb? |
| siad (they) | ChíorfaidísThey would comb | Ní chíorfaidísThey would not comb | An gcíorfaidís?Would they comb? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Chíorfaí | Ní chíorfaí | An gcíorfaí? |
“Cíor” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Chíor sí a cuid gruaige roimh an scoil.
She combed her hair before school.
Cíorann sé a fhéasóg gach maidin.
He combs his beard every morning.
Cíorfaidh an coiste an cheist amárach.
The committee will examine the question tomorrow.
Chíorfainn do chuid gruaige dá mbeadh cíor agam.
I would comb your hair if I had a comb.
Níor chíor mé mo chuid gruaige inniu.
I didn't comb my hair today.
Ar chíor tú an madra fós?
Did you comb the dog yet?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To comb in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to comb?
The Irish for to comb is cíor (pronounced “keer”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is cíoradh.
What is the verbal noun of cíor?
The verbal noun of cíor is cíoradh, used after ag for the continuous: ag cíoradh (combing). The verbal adjective is cíortha.
How do you say cíor in the past and the future?
Past: Chíor mé; negative Níor chíor mé; question Ar chíor mé?. Future: Cíorfaidh mé; negative Ní chíorfaidh mé; question An gcíorfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of cíor?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Chíorfainn (I would comb); negative Ní chíorfainn; question An gcíorfainn?.
Does cíor have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cíor can mean to comb or to examine, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Can 'cíor' be used for discussing a topic?
Yes, 'cíor' also means to examine or thrash out a matter in detail, as in 'an cheist a chíoradh', to examine the question.
