HeyRuaHow to say “to help” in Irish
- Irish:
- cuidigh
- English:
- to help, second
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- cuidiú (ag cuidiú, helping)
- Verbal adjective:
- cuidithe
- Pronunciation:
- “KWID-ee” /ˈkɪdʲɪ/
What does “cuidigh” mean?
“Cuidigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to help
- To give help or assistance to someone, used with 'le' before the person helped.Also: assist, aid, give a hand.
“Cuidigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Chuidigh méI helped | Níor chuidigh méI did not help | Ar chuidigh mé?Did I help? |
| tú (you) | Chuidigh túYou helped | Níor chuidigh túYou did not help | Ar chuidigh tú?Did you help? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chuidigh sé / síHe helped | Níor chuidigh sé / síHe did not help | Ar chuidigh sé / sí?Did he help? |
| sinn (we) | ChuidíomarWe helped | Níor chuidíomarWe did not help | Ar chuidíomar?Did we help? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chuidigh sibhYou helped | Níor chuidigh sibhYou did not help | Ar chuidigh sibh?Did you help? |
| siad (they) | Chuidigh siadThey helped | Níor chuidigh siadThey did not help | Ar chuidigh siad?Did they help? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cuidíodh | Níor cuidíodh | Ar cuidíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CuidímI help | Ní chuidímI do not help | An gcuidím?Do I help? |
| tú (you) | Cuidíonn túYou help | Ní chuidíonn túYou do not help | An gcuidíonn tú?Do you help? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cuidíonn sé / síHe helps | Ní chuidíonn sé / síHe does not help | An gcuidíonn sé / sí?Does he help? |
| sinn (we) | CuidímidWe help | Ní chuidímidWe do not help | An gcuidímid?Do we help? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cuidíonn sibhYou help | Ní chuidíonn sibhYou do not help | An gcuidíonn sibh?Do you help? |
| siad (they) | Cuidíonn siadThey help | Ní chuidíonn siadThey do not help | An gcuidíonn siad?Do they help? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cuidítear | Ní chuidítear | An gcuidítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Cuideoidh méI will help | Ní chuideoidh méI will not help | An gcuideoidh mé?Will I help? |
| tú (you) | Cuideoidh túYou will help | Ní chuideoidh túYou will not help | An gcuideoidh tú?Will you help? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cuideoidh sé / síHe will help | Ní chuideoidh sé / síHe will not help | An gcuideoidh sé / sí?Will he help? |
| sinn (we) | CuideoimidWe will help | Ní chuideoimidWe will not help | An gcuideoimid?Will we help? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cuideoidh sibhYou will help | Ní chuideoidh sibhYou will not help | An gcuideoidh sibh?Will you help? |
| siad (they) | Cuideoidh siadThey will help | Ní chuideoidh siadThey will not help | An gcuideoidh siad?Will they help? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cuideofar | Ní chuideofar | An gcuideofar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChuideoinnI would help | Ní chuideoinnI would not help | An gcuideoinn?Would I help? |
| tú (you) | ChuideofáYou would help | Ní chuideofáYou would not help | An gcuideofá?Would you help? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chuideodh sé / síHe would help | Ní chuideodh sé / síHe would not help | An gcuideodh sé / sí?Would he help? |
| sinn (we) | ChuideoimisWe would help | Ní chuideoimisWe would not help | An gcuideoimis?Would we help? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chuideodh sibhYou would help | Ní chuideodh sibhYou would not help | An gcuideodh sibh?Would you help? |
| siad (they) | ChuideoidísThey would help | Ní chuideoidísThey would not help | An gcuideoidís?Would they help? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Chuideofaí | Ní chuideofaí | An gcuideofaí? |
“Cuidigh” 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 help in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to help?
The Irish for to help is cuidigh (pronounced “KWID-ee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is cuidiú.
What is the verbal noun of cuidigh?
The verbal noun of cuidigh is cuidiú, used after ag for the continuous: ag cuidiú (helping). The verbal adjective is cuidithe.
How do you say cuidigh in the past and the future?
Past: Chuidigh mé; negative Níor chuidigh mé; question Ar chuidigh mé?. Future: Cuideoidh mé; negative Ní chuideoidh mé; question An gcuideoidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of cuidigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Chuideoinn (I would help); negative Ní chuideoinn; question An gcuideoinn?.
Does cuidigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cuidigh can mean to help or to second, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'cuidigh' and 'cabhraigh'?
Both mean to help and both take 'le': 'cabhraigh liom' and 'cuidigh liom'. 'Cuidigh' is especially common in Ulster Irish, while 'cabhraigh' is widespread elsewhere.
Which preposition does 'cuidigh' take?
It takes 'le' before the person helped, as in 'Chuidigh mé le Seán' (I helped Seán).
