HeyRuaHow to say “to keep” in Irish
- Irish:
- coimeád
- English:
- to keep, maintain, guard, detain, observe
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- coimeád (ag coimeád, keeping)
- Verbal adjective:
- coimeádta
- Pronunciation:
- “kuh-MAWD” /kəˈmʲɑːd̪ˠ/
What does “coimeád” mean?
“Coimeád” has five alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to keep
- To hold on to something or continue to have it.Also: hold, retain, save.
4 other meanings: maintain or guard or detain or observe
- 2to maintain
- To keep something in a certain state or keep it going.Also: keep up, preserve.
- 3to guard
- To watch over or protect something or someone.Also: protect, mind.
- 4to detain
- To keep someone back or hold them in custody.Also: hold back, keep in.
- 5to observe
- To keep or celebrate a feast, custom or rule.Also: keep, celebrate.
Other Irish verbs for to keep: coinnigh (keep)
“Coimeád” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Choimeád méI kept | Níor choimeád méI did not keep | Ar choimeád mé?Did I keep? |
| tú (you) | Choimeád túYou kept | Níor choimeád túYou did not keep | Ar choimeád tú?Did you keep? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Choimeád sé / síHe kept | Níor choimeád sé / síHe did not keep | Ar choimeád sé / sí?Did he keep? |
| sinn (we) | ChoimeádamarWe kept | Níor choimeádamarWe did not keep | Ar choimeádamar?Did we keep? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Choimeád sibhYou kept | Níor choimeád sibhYou did not keep | Ar choimeád sibh?Did you keep? |
| siad (they) | Choimeád siadThey kept | Níor choimeád siadThey did not keep | Ar choimeád siad?Did they keep? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Coimeádadh | Níor coimeádadh | Ar coimeádadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CoimeádaimI keep | Ní choimeádaimI do not keep | An gcoimeádaim?Do I keep? |
| tú (you) | Coimeádann túYou keep | Ní choimeádann túYou do not keep | An gcoimeádann tú?Do you keep? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Coimeádann sé / síHe keeps | Ní choimeádann sé / síHe does not keep | An gcoimeádann sé / sí?Does he keep? |
| sinn (we) | CoimeádaimidWe keep | Ní choimeádaimidWe do not keep | An gcoimeádaimid?Do we keep? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Coimeádann sibhYou keep | Ní choimeádann sibhYou do not keep | An gcoimeádann sibh?Do you keep? |
| siad (they) | Coimeádann siadThey keep | Ní choimeádann siadThey do not keep | An gcoimeádann siad?Do they keep? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Coimeádtar | Ní choimeádtar | An gcoimeádtar? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Coimeádfaidh méI will keep | Ní choimeádfaidh méI will not keep | An gcoimeádfaidh mé?Will I keep? |
| tú (you) | Coimeádfaidh túYou will keep | Ní choimeádfaidh túYou will not keep | An gcoimeádfaidh tú?Will you keep? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Coimeádfaidh sé / síHe will keep | Ní choimeádfaidh sé / síHe will not keep | An gcoimeádfaidh sé / sí?Will he keep? |
| sinn (we) | CoimeádfaimidWe will keep | Ní choimeádfaimidWe will not keep | An gcoimeádfaimid?Will we keep? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Coimeádfaidh sibhYou will keep | Ní choimeádfaidh sibhYou will not keep | An gcoimeádfaidh sibh?Will you keep? |
| siad (they) | Coimeádfaidh siadThey will keep | Ní choimeádfaidh siadThey will not keep | An gcoimeádfaidh siad?Will they keep? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Coimeádfar | Ní choimeádfar | An gcoimeádfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChoimeádfainnI would keep | Ní choimeádfainnI would not keep | An gcoimeádfainn?Would I keep? |
| tú (you) | ChoimeádfáYou would keep | Ní choimeádfáYou would not keep | An gcoimeádfá?Would you keep? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Choimeádfadh sé / síHe would keep | Ní choimeádfadh sé / síHe would not keep | An gcoimeádfadh sé / sí?Would he keep? |
| sinn (we) | ChoimeádfaimisWe would keep | Ní choimeádfaimisWe would not keep | An gcoimeádfaimis?Would we keep? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Choimeádfadh sibhYou would keep | Ní choimeádfadh sibhYou would not keep | An gcoimeádfadh sibh?Would you keep? |
| siad (they) | ChoimeádfaidísThey would keep | Ní choimeádfaidísThey would not keep | An gcoimeádfaidís?Would they keep? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Choimeádfaí | Ní choimeádfaí | An gcoimeádfaí? |
“Coimeád” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Choimeád sí na páistí i ndiaidh am scoile.
She kept the children back after school.
Coimeádann sí na cáipéisí i dtarraiceán.
She keeps the documents in a drawer.
Coimeádfaidh mé an leabhar duit.
I will keep the book for you.
Choimeádfainn an t-airgead dá mbeadh sé agam.
I would keep the money if I had it.
Níor choimeád sé a gheallúint.
He didn't keep his promise.
Ar choimeád tú an ticéad?
Did you keep the ticket?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To keep in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to keep?
The Irish for to keep is coimeád (pronounced “kuh-MAWD”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is coimeád.
What is the verbal noun of coimeád?
The verbal noun of coimeád is coimeád, used after ag for the continuous: ag coimeád (keeping). The verbal adjective is coimeádta.
How do you say coimeád in the past and the future?
Past: Choimeád mé; negative Níor choimeád mé; question Ar choimeád mé?. Future: Coimeádfaidh mé; negative Ní choimeádfaidh mé; question An gcoimeádfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of coimeád?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Choimeádfainn (I would keep); negative Ní choimeádfainn; question An gcoimeádfainn?.
Does coimeád have more than one meaning?
Yes. Coimeád can mean to keep, to maintain, to guard, to detain or to observe, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'coimeád' and 'coinnigh'?
Both mean 'keep'. 'Coimeád' is especially common in Munster, while 'coinnigh' is more usual in Connacht and Ulster.
