HeyRuaHow to say “to fail” in Irish
- Irish:
- teip
- English:
- to fail, break down
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- teip (ag teip, failing)
- Verbal adjective:
- teipthe
- Pronunciation:
- “tchep” /tʲepʲ/
What does “teip” mean?
“Teip” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to fail
- To not succeed; used with 'ar' for the person who fails: 'theip orm' means 'I failed'.Also: not succeed, be unsuccessful, flunk.
1 other meaning: break down
“Teip” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Theip méI failed | Níor theip méI did not fail | Ar theip mé?Did I fail? |
| tú (you) | Theip túYou failed | Níor theip túYou did not fail | Ar theip tú?Did you fail? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Theip sé / síHe failed | Níor theip sé / síHe did not fail | Ar theip sé / sí?Did he fail? |
| sinn (we) | TheipeamarWe failed | Níor theipeamarWe did not fail | Ar theipeamar?Did we fail? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Theip sibhYou failed | Níor theip sibhYou did not fail | Ar theip sibh?Did you fail? |
| siad (they) | Theip siadThey failed | Níor theip siadThey did not fail | Ar theip siad?Did they fail? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Teipeadh | Níor teipeadh | Ar teipeadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | TeipimI fail | Ní theipimI do not fail | An dteipim?Do I fail? |
| tú (you) | Teipeann túYou fail | Ní theipeann túYou do not fail | An dteipeann tú?Do you fail? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Teipeann sé / síHe fails | Ní theipeann sé / síHe does not fail | An dteipeann sé / sí?Does he fail? |
| sinn (we) | TeipimidWe fail | Ní theipimidWe do not fail | An dteipimid?Do we fail? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Teipeann sibhYou fail | Ní theipeann sibhYou do not fail | An dteipeann sibh?Do you fail? |
| siad (they) | Teipeann siadThey fail | Ní theipeann siadThey do not fail | An dteipeann siad?Do they fail? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Teiptear | Ní theiptear | An dteiptear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Teipfidh méI will fail | Ní theipfidh méI will not fail | An dteipfidh mé?Will I fail? |
| tú (you) | Teipfidh túYou will fail | Ní theipfidh túYou will not fail | An dteipfidh tú?Will you fail? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Teipfidh sé / síHe will fail | Ní theipfidh sé / síHe will not fail | An dteipfidh sé / sí?Will he fail? |
| sinn (we) | TeipfimidWe will fail | Ní theipfimidWe will not fail | An dteipfimid?Will we fail? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Teipfidh sibhYou will fail | Ní theipfidh sibhYou will not fail | An dteipfidh sibh?Will you fail? |
| siad (they) | Teipfidh siadThey will fail | Ní theipfidh siadThey will not fail | An dteipfidh siad?Will they fail? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Teipfear | Ní theipfear | An dteipfear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | TheipfinnI would fail | Ní theipfinnI would not fail | An dteipfinn?Would I fail? |
| tú (you) | TheipfeáYou would fail | Ní theipfeáYou would not fail | An dteipfeá?Would you fail? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Theipfeadh sé / síHe would fail | Ní theipfeadh sé / síHe would not fail | An dteipfeadh sé / sí?Would he fail? |
| sinn (we) | TheipfimisWe would fail | Ní theipfimisWe would not fail | An dteipfimis?Would we fail? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Theipfeadh sibhYou would fail | Ní theipfeadh sibhYou would not fail | An dteipfeadh sibh?Would you fail? |
| siad (they) | TheipfidísThey would fail | Ní theipfidísThey would not fail | An dteipfidís?Would they fail? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Theipfí | Ní theipfí | An dteipfí? |
“Teip” 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 fail in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to fail?
The Irish for to fail is teip (pronounced “tchep”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is teip.
What is the verbal noun of teip?
The verbal noun of teip is teip, used after ag for the continuous: ag teip (failing). The verbal adjective is teipthe.
How do you say teip in the past and the future?
Past: Theip mé; negative Níor theip mé; question Ar theip mé?. Future: Teipfidh mé; negative Ní theipfidh mé; question An dteipfidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of teip?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Theipfinn (I would fail); negative Ní theipfinn; question An dteipfinn?.
Does teip have more than one meaning?
Yes. Teip can mean to fail or to break down, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'I failed' with 'teip'?
The person goes after 'ar': 'Theip orm' means 'I failed', literally 'it failed on me'.
What is the difference between 'teip' and 'clis'?
'Teip' is the general word for failing, while 'clis' often means to break down or let someone down, as in 'chlis an t-inneall'.
