HeyRuaHow to say “to gnaw” in Irish
- Irish:
- creim
- English:
- to gnaw, corrode
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- creimeadh (ag creimeadh, gnawing)
- Verbal adjective:
- creimthe
- Pronunciation:
- “kremm” /kɾʲɛmʲ/
What does “creim” mean?
“Creim” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to gnaw
- To bite at something again and again, wearing it away with the teeth.Also: nibble, chew at, bite away.
1 other meaning: corrode
- 2to corrode
- To wear something away slowly, as rust, water or acid does.Also: erode, eat away, wear away.
“Creim” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Chreim méI gnawed | Níor chreim méI did not gnaw | Ar chreim mé?Did I gnaw? |
| tú (you) | Chreim túYou gnawed | Níor chreim túYou did not gnaw | Ar chreim tú?Did you gnaw? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chreim sé / síHe gnawed | Níor chreim sé / síHe did not gnaw | Ar chreim sé / sí?Did he gnaw? |
| sinn (we) | ChreimeamarWe gnawed | Níor chreimeamarWe did not gnaw | Ar chreimeamar?Did we gnaw? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chreim sibhYou gnawed | Níor chreim sibhYou did not gnaw | Ar chreim sibh?Did you gnaw? |
| siad (they) | Chreim siadThey gnawed | Níor chreim siadThey did not gnaw | Ar chreim siad?Did they gnaw? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Creimeadh | Níor creimeadh | Ar creimeadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CreimimI gnaw | Ní chreimimI do not gnaw | An gcreimim?Do I gnaw? |
| tú (you) | Creimeann túYou gnaw | Ní chreimeann túYou do not gnaw | An gcreimeann tú?Do you gnaw? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Creimeann sé / síHe gnaws | Ní chreimeann sé / síHe does not gnaw | An gcreimeann sé / sí?Does he gnaw? |
| sinn (we) | CreimimidWe gnaw | Ní chreimimidWe do not gnaw | An gcreimimid?Do we gnaw? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Creimeann sibhYou gnaw | Ní chreimeann sibhYou do not gnaw | An gcreimeann sibh?Do you gnaw? |
| siad (they) | Creimeann siadThey gnaw | Ní chreimeann siadThey do not gnaw | An gcreimeann siad?Do they gnaw? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Creimtear | Ní chreimtear | An gcreimtear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Creimfidh méI will gnaw | Ní chreimfidh méI will not gnaw | An gcreimfidh mé?Will I gnaw? |
| tú (you) | Creimfidh túYou will gnaw | Ní chreimfidh túYou will not gnaw | An gcreimfidh tú?Will you gnaw? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Creimfidh sé / síHe will gnaw | Ní chreimfidh sé / síHe will not gnaw | An gcreimfidh sé / sí?Will he gnaw? |
| sinn (we) | CreimfimidWe will gnaw | Ní chreimfimidWe will not gnaw | An gcreimfimid?Will we gnaw? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Creimfidh sibhYou will gnaw | Ní chreimfidh sibhYou will not gnaw | An gcreimfidh sibh?Will you gnaw? |
| siad (they) | Creimfidh siadThey will gnaw | Ní chreimfidh siadThey will not gnaw | An gcreimfidh siad?Will they gnaw? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Creimfear | Ní chreimfear | An gcreimfear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChreimfinnI would gnaw | Ní chreimfinnI would not gnaw | An gcreimfinn?Would I gnaw? |
| tú (you) | ChreimfeáYou would gnaw | Ní chreimfeáYou would not gnaw | An gcreimfeá?Would you gnaw? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chreimfeadh sé / síHe would gnaw | Ní chreimfeadh sé / síHe would not gnaw | An gcreimfeadh sé / sí?Would he gnaw? |
| sinn (we) | ChreimfimisWe would gnaw | Ní chreimfimisWe would not gnaw | An gcreimfimis?Would we gnaw? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chreimfeadh sibhYou would gnaw | Ní chreimfeadh sibhYou would not gnaw | An gcreimfeadh sibh?Would you gnaw? |
| siad (they) | ChreimfidísThey would gnaw | Ní chreimfidísThey would not gnaw | An gcreimfidís?Would they gnaw? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Chreimfí | Ní chreimfí | An gcreimfí? |
“Creim” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Chreim an luch an cháis sa chófra.
The mouse gnawed the cheese in the cupboard.
Creimeann an fharraige an aill gach bliain.
The sea erodes the cliff every year.
Creimfidh an meirg an geata iarainn.
The rust will corrode the iron gate.
Chreimfeadh na francaigh an rópa dá bhfágfá ansin é.
The rats would gnaw the rope if you left it there.
Níor chreim an madra an cnámh fós.
The dog hasn't gnawed the bone yet.
Ar chreim an t-aigéad an miotal?
Did the acid corrode the metal?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To gnaw in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to gnaw?
The Irish for to gnaw is creim (pronounced “kremm”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is creimeadh.
What is the verbal noun of creim?
The verbal noun of creim is creimeadh, used after ag for the continuous: ag creimeadh (gnawing). The verbal adjective is creimthe.
How do you say creim in the past and the future?
Past: Chreim mé; negative Níor chreim mé; question Ar chreim mé?. Future: Creimfidh mé; negative Ní chreimfidh mé; question An gcreimfidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of creim?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Chreimfinn (I would gnaw); negative Ní chreimfinn; question An gcreimfinn?.
Does creim have more than one meaning?
Yes. Creim can mean to gnaw or to corrode, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'creim' and 'cogain'?
'Cogain' means to chew food, while 'creim' means to gnaw at something or wear it away, as in 'chreim an luch an t-adhmad' (the mouse gnawed the wood).
