HeyRuaHow to say “to employ” in Irish
- Irish:
- fostaigh
- English:
- to employ, catch
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- fostú (ag fostú, employing)
- Verbal adjective:
- fostaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “FUS-tee” /ˈfˠɔsˠt̪ˠiː/
What does “fostaigh” mean?
“Fostaigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to employ
- To give someone a job and pay them to work for you.Also: hire, take on, engage, recruit.
1 other meaning: catch
- 2to catch
- To catch or hold something fast so that it is fixed or gripped.Also: hold fast, grip, fasten.
“Fostaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'fhostaigh méI employed | Níor fhostaigh méI did not employ | Ar fhostaigh mé?Did I employ? |
| tú (you) | D'fhostaigh túYou employed | Níor fhostaigh túYou did not employ | Ar fhostaigh tú?Did you employ? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'fhostaigh sé / síHe employed | Níor fhostaigh sé / síHe did not employ | Ar fhostaigh sé / sí?Did he employ? |
| sinn (we) | D'fhostaíomarWe employed | Níor fhostaíomarWe did not employ | Ar fhostaíomar?Did we employ? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'fhostaigh sibhYou employed | Níor fhostaigh sibhYou did not employ | Ar fhostaigh sibh?Did you employ? |
| siad (they) | D'fhostaigh siadThey employed | Níor fhostaigh siadThey did not employ | Ar fhostaigh siad?Did they employ? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Fostaíodh | Níor fostaíodh | Ar fostaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | FostaímI employ | Ní fhostaímI do not employ | An bhfostaím?Do I employ? |
| tú (you) | Fostaíonn túYou employ | Ní fhostaíonn túYou do not employ | An bhfostaíonn tú?Do you employ? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Fostaíonn sé / síHe employs | Ní fhostaíonn sé / síHe does not employ | An bhfostaíonn sé / sí?Does he employ? |
| sinn (we) | FostaímidWe employ | Ní fhostaímidWe do not employ | An bhfostaímid?Do we employ? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Fostaíonn sibhYou employ | Ní fhostaíonn sibhYou do not employ | An bhfostaíonn sibh?Do you employ? |
| siad (they) | Fostaíonn siadThey employ | Ní fhostaíonn siadThey do not employ | An bhfostaíonn siad?Do they employ? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Fostaítear | Ní fhostaítear | An bhfostaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Fostóidh méI will employ | Ní fhostóidh méI will not employ | An bhfostóidh mé?Will I employ? |
| tú (you) | Fostóidh túYou will employ | Ní fhostóidh túYou will not employ | An bhfostóidh tú?Will you employ? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Fostóidh sé / síHe will employ | Ní fhostóidh sé / síHe will not employ | An bhfostóidh sé / sí?Will he employ? |
| sinn (we) | FostóimidWe will employ | Ní fhostóimidWe will not employ | An bhfostóimid?Will we employ? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Fostóidh sibhYou will employ | Ní fhostóidh sibhYou will not employ | An bhfostóidh sibh?Will you employ? |
| siad (they) | Fostóidh siadThey will employ | Ní fhostóidh siadThey will not employ | An bhfostóidh siad?Will they employ? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Fostófar | Ní fhostófar | An bhfostófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'fhostóinnI would employ | Ní fhostóinnI would not employ | An bhfostóinn?Would I employ? |
| tú (you) | D'fhostófáYou would employ | Ní fhostófáYou would not employ | An bhfostófá?Would you employ? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'fhostódh sé / síHe would employ | Ní fhostódh sé / síHe would not employ | An bhfostódh sé / sí?Would he employ? |
| sinn (we) | D'fhostóimisWe would employ | Ní fhostóimisWe would not employ | An bhfostóimis?Would we employ? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'fhostódh sibhYou would employ | Ní fhostódh sibhYou would not employ | An bhfostódh sibh?Would you employ? |
| siad (they) | D'fhostóidísThey would employ | Ní fhostóidísThey would not employ | An bhfostóidís?Would they employ? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | D'fhostófaí | Ní fhostófaí | An bhfostófaí? |
“Fostaigh” 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 employ in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to employ?
The Irish for to employ is fostaigh (pronounced “FUS-tee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is fostú.
What is the verbal noun of fostaigh?
The verbal noun of fostaigh is fostú, used after ag for the continuous: ag fostú (employing). The verbal adjective is fostaithe.
How do you say fostaigh in the past and the future?
Past: D'fhostaigh mé; negative Níor fhostaigh mé; question Ar fhostaigh mé?. Future: Fostóidh mé; negative Ní fhostóidh mé; question An bhfostóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of fostaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is D'fhostóinn (I would employ); negative Ní fhostóinn; question An bhfostóinn?.
Does fostaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Fostaigh can mean to employ or to catch, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say someone is employed by a company?
Use the verbal adjective with 'ag': Tá sí fostaithe ag an mbanc, 'She is employed by the bank'. The noun 'fostaí' means 'employee' and 'fostóir' means 'employer'.
What is the difference between 'fostaigh' and 'earcaigh'?
'Fostaigh' means to employ or hire someone, while 'earcaigh' means to recruit, the process of finding new staff or members.
