HeyRuaHow to say “to hibernate” in Irish
- Irish:
- geimhrigh
- English:
- to hibernate, winter
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- geimhriú (ag geimhriú, hibernating)
- Verbal adjective:
- geimhrithe
- Pronunciation:
- “GYEV-ree” /ˈɟɛvʲɾʲiː/
What does “geimhrigh” mean?
“Geimhrigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to hibernate
- To spend the winter in a deep sleep or dormant state, as some animals do.Also: sleep through winter, lie dormant.
1 other meaning: winter
- 2to winter
- To spend or pass the winter somewhere, or to keep animals over the winter.Also: overwinter, winter over, spend the winter.
“Geimhrigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Gheimhrigh méI hibernated | Níor gheimhrigh méI did not hibernate | Ar gheimhrigh mé?Did I hibernate? |
| tú (you) | Gheimhrigh túYou hibernated | Níor gheimhrigh túYou did not hibernate | Ar gheimhrigh tú?Did you hibernate? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Gheimhrigh sé / síHe hibernated | Níor gheimhrigh sé / síHe did not hibernate | Ar gheimhrigh sé / sí?Did he hibernate? |
| sinn (we) | GheimhríomarWe hibernated | Níor gheimhríomarWe did not hibernate | Ar gheimhríomar?Did we hibernate? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Gheimhrigh sibhYou hibernated | Níor gheimhrigh sibhYou did not hibernate | Ar gheimhrigh sibh?Did you hibernate? |
| siad (they) | Gheimhrigh siadThey hibernated | Níor gheimhrigh siadThey did not hibernate | Ar gheimhrigh siad?Did they hibernate? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Geimhríodh | Níor geimhríodh | Ar geimhríodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | GeimhrímI hibernate | Ní gheimhrímI do not hibernate | An ngeimhrím?Do I hibernate? |
| tú (you) | Geimhríonn túYou hibernate | Ní gheimhríonn túYou do not hibernate | An ngeimhríonn tú?Do you hibernate? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Geimhríonn sé / síHe hibernates | Ní gheimhríonn sé / síHe does not hibernate | An ngeimhríonn sé / sí?Does he hibernate? |
| sinn (we) | GeimhrímidWe hibernate | Ní gheimhrímidWe do not hibernate | An ngeimhrímid?Do we hibernate? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Geimhríonn sibhYou hibernate | Ní gheimhríonn sibhYou do not hibernate | An ngeimhríonn sibh?Do you hibernate? |
| siad (they) | Geimhríonn siadThey hibernate | Ní gheimhríonn siadThey do not hibernate | An ngeimhríonn siad?Do they hibernate? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Geimhrítear | Ní gheimhrítear | An ngeimhrítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Geimhreoidh méI will hibernate | Ní gheimhreoidh méI will not hibernate | An ngeimhreoidh mé?Will I hibernate? |
| tú (you) | Geimhreoidh túYou will hibernate | Ní gheimhreoidh túYou will not hibernate | An ngeimhreoidh tú?Will you hibernate? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Geimhreoidh sé / síHe will hibernate | Ní gheimhreoidh sé / síHe will not hibernate | An ngeimhreoidh sé / sí?Will he hibernate? |
| sinn (we) | GeimhreoimidWe will hibernate | Ní gheimhreoimidWe will not hibernate | An ngeimhreoimid?Will we hibernate? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Geimhreoidh sibhYou will hibernate | Ní gheimhreoidh sibhYou will not hibernate | An ngeimhreoidh sibh?Will you hibernate? |
| siad (they) | Geimhreoidh siadThey will hibernate | Ní gheimhreoidh siadThey will not hibernate | An ngeimhreoidh siad?Will they hibernate? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Geimhreofar | Ní gheimhreofar | An ngeimhreofar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | GheimhreoinnI would hibernate | Ní gheimhreoinnI would not hibernate | An ngeimhreoinn?Would I hibernate? |
| tú (you) | GheimhreofáYou would hibernate | Ní gheimhreofáYou would not hibernate | An ngeimhreofá?Would you hibernate? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Gheimhreodh sé / síHe would hibernate | Ní gheimhreodh sé / síHe would not hibernate | An ngeimhreodh sé / sí?Would he hibernate? |
| sinn (we) | GheimhreoimisWe would hibernate | Ní gheimhreoimisWe would not hibernate | An ngeimhreoimis?Would we hibernate? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Gheimhreodh sibhYou would hibernate | Ní gheimhreodh sibhYou would not hibernate | An ngeimhreodh sibh?Would you hibernate? |
| siad (they) | GheimhreoidísThey would hibernate | Ní gheimhreoidísThey would not hibernate | An ngeimhreoidís?Would they hibernate? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Gheimhreofaí | Ní gheimhreofaí | An ngeimhreofaí? |
“Geimhrigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Gheimhrigh an ghráinneog faoin gcarn duilleog.
The hedgehog hibernated under the pile of leaves.
Geimhríonn an broc i bpoll faoin talamh.
The badger hibernates in a hole underground.
Geimhreoidh na beacha sa choirceog.
The bees will winter in the hive.
Gheimhreodh na ba sa chró dá mbeadh spás ann.
The cows would winter in the shed if there were room.
Ní gheimhríonn gach ainmhí sa gheimhreadh.
Not every animal hibernates in winter.
An ngeimhríonn an ialtóg in Éirinn?
Does the bat hibernate in Ireland?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To hibernate in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to hibernate?
The Irish for to hibernate is geimhrigh (pronounced “GYEV-ree”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is geimhriú.
What is the verbal noun of geimhrigh?
The verbal noun of geimhrigh is geimhriú, used after ag for the continuous: ag geimhriú (hibernating). The verbal adjective is geimhrithe.
How do you say geimhrigh in the past and the future?
Past: Gheimhrigh mé; negative Níor gheimhrigh mé; question Ar gheimhrigh mé?. Future: Geimhreoidh mé; negative Ní gheimhreoidh mé; question An ngeimhreoidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of geimhrigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Gheimhreoinn (I would hibernate); negative Ní gheimhreoinn; question An ngeimhreoinn?.
Does geimhrigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Geimhrigh can mean to hibernate or to winter, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the noun for hibernation?
The verbal noun 'geimhriú' is used for hibernation, as in 'Bíonn an ghráinneog ag geimhriú' (The hedgehog is hibernating).
