HeyRuaHow to say “to guard” in Irish
- Irish:
- gardáil
- English:
- to guard, escort
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- gardáil (ag gardáil, guarding)
- Verbal adjective:
- gardáilte
- Pronunciation:
- “GAR-dawl” /ˈɡaːɾˠd̪ˠaːlʲ/
What does “gardáil” mean?
“Gardáil” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to guard
- To watch over a person or place to protect it or stop people escaping.Also: watch over, protect, keep guard.
1 other meaning: escort
- 2to escort
- To go along with someone as a guard.Also: accompany under guard.
“Gardáil” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Ghardáil méI guarded | Níor ghardáil méI did not guard | Ar ghardáil mé?Did I guard? |
| tú (you) | Ghardáil túYou guarded | Níor ghardáil túYou did not guard | Ar ghardáil tú?Did you guard? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ghardáil sé / síHe guarded | Níor ghardáil sé / síHe did not guard | Ar ghardáil sé / sí?Did he guard? |
| sinn (we) | GhardálamarWe guarded | Níor ghardálamarWe did not guard | Ar ghardálamar?Did we guard? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ghardáil sibhYou guarded | Níor ghardáil sibhYou did not guard | Ar ghardáil sibh?Did you guard? |
| siad (they) | Ghardáil siadThey guarded | Níor ghardáil siadThey did not guard | Ar ghardáil siad?Did they guard? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Gardáladh | Níor gardáladh | Ar gardáladh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | GardálaimI guard | Ní ghardálaimI do not guard | An ngardálaim?Do I guard? |
| tú (you) | Gardálann túYou guard | Ní ghardálann túYou do not guard | An ngardálann tú?Do you guard? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Gardálann sé / síHe guards | Ní ghardálann sé / síHe does not guard | An ngardálann sé / sí?Does he guard? |
| sinn (we) | GardálaimidWe guard | Ní ghardálaimidWe do not guard | An ngardálaimid?Do we guard? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Gardálann sibhYou guard | Ní ghardálann sibhYou do not guard | An ngardálann sibh?Do you guard? |
| siad (they) | Gardálann siadThey guard | Ní ghardálann siadThey do not guard | An ngardálann siad?Do they guard? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Gardáiltear | Ní ghardáiltear | An ngardáiltear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Gardálfaidh méI will guard | Ní ghardálfaidh méI will not guard | An ngardálfaidh mé?Will I guard? |
| tú (you) | Gardálfaidh túYou will guard | Ní ghardálfaidh túYou will not guard | An ngardálfaidh tú?Will you guard? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Gardálfaidh sé / síHe will guard | Ní ghardálfaidh sé / síHe will not guard | An ngardálfaidh sé / sí?Will he guard? |
| sinn (we) | GardálfaimidWe will guard | Ní ghardálfaimidWe will not guard | An ngardálfaimid?Will we guard? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Gardálfaidh sibhYou will guard | Ní ghardálfaidh sibhYou will not guard | An ngardálfaidh sibh?Will you guard? |
| siad (they) | Gardálfaidh siadThey will guard | Ní ghardálfaidh siadThey will not guard | An ngardálfaidh siad?Will they guard? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Gardálfar | Ní ghardálfar | An ngardálfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | GhardálfainnI would guard | Ní ghardálfainnI would not guard | An ngardálfainn?Would I guard? |
| tú (you) | GhardálfáYou would guard | Ní ghardálfáYou would not guard | An ngardálfá?Would you guard? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ghardálfadh sé / síHe would guard | Ní ghardálfadh sé / síHe would not guard | An ngardálfadh sé / sí?Would he guard? |
| sinn (we) | GhardálfaimisWe would guard | Ní ghardálfaimisWe would not guard | An ngardálfaimis?Would we guard? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ghardálfadh sibhYou would guard | Ní ghardálfadh sibhYou would not guard | An ngardálfadh sibh?Would you guard? |
| siad (they) | GhardálfaidísThey would guard | Ní ghardálfaidísThey would not guard | An ngardálfaidís?Would they guard? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Ghardálfaí | Ní ghardálfaí | An ngardálfaí? |
“Gardáil” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Ghardáil na saighdiúirí an droichead ar feadh na hoíche.
The soldiers guarded the bridge all night.
Gardálann an madra an teach nuair a bhímid amuigh.
The dog guards the house when we are out.
Gardálfaidh beirt fhear an doras amárach.
Two men will guard the door tomorrow.
Ghardálfainn an siopa dá n-íocfá mé.
I would guard the shop if you paid me.
Níor ghardáil aon duine an carr.
Nobody guarded the car.
Ar ghardáil siad an príosúnach go dtí an chúirt?
Did they escort the prisoner to the court?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To guard in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to guard?
The Irish for to guard is gardáil (pronounced “GAR-dawl”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is gardáil.
What is the verbal noun of gardáil?
The verbal noun of gardáil is gardáil, used after ag for the continuous: ag gardáil (guarding). The verbal adjective is gardáilte.
How do you say gardáil in the past and the future?
Past: Ghardáil mé; negative Níor ghardáil mé; question Ar ghardáil mé?. Future: Gardálfaidh mé; negative Ní ghardálfaidh mé; question An ngardálfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of gardáil?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Ghardálfainn (I would guard); negative Ní ghardálfainn; question An ngardálfainn?.
Does gardáil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Gardáil can mean to guard or to escort, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'gardáil' and 'cosain'?
'Gardáil' means to stand guard over something, while 'cosain' is the general word for defend or protect, as in 'cosain thú féin'.
