HeyRuaHow to say “to laugh” in Irish
- Irish:
- gáir
- English:
- to laugh, shout
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- gáire (ag gáire, laughing)
- Verbal adjective:
- gáirthe
- Pronunciation:
- “gawr” /ɡɑːɾʲ/
What does “gáir” mean?
“Gáir” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to laugh
- To make the sounds and face that show you find something funny.Also: chuckle, burst out laughing.
1 other meaning: shout
- 2to shout
- To cry out loudly, to call or cheer.Also: cry out, call out, cheer.
“Gáir” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Gháir méI laughed | Níor gháir méI did not laugh | Ar gháir mé?Did I laugh? |
| tú (you) | Gháir túYou laughed | Níor gháir túYou did not laugh | Ar gháir tú?Did you laugh? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Gháir sé / síHe laughed | Níor gháir sé / síHe did not laugh | Ar gháir sé / sí?Did he laugh? |
| sinn (we) | GháireamarWe laughed | Níor gháireamarWe did not laugh | Ar gháireamar?Did we laugh? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Gháir sibhYou laughed | Níor gháir sibhYou did not laugh | Ar gháir sibh?Did you laugh? |
| siad (they) | Gháir siadThey laughed | Níor gháir siadThey did not laugh | Ar gháir siad?Did they laugh? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Gáireadh | Níor gáireadh | Ar gáireadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | GáirimI laugh | Ní gháirimI do not laugh | An ngáirim?Do I laugh? |
| tú (you) | Gáireann túYou laugh | Ní gháireann túYou do not laugh | An ngáireann tú?Do you laugh? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Gáireann sé / síHe laughs | Ní gháireann sé / síHe does not laugh | An ngáireann sé / sí?Does he laugh? |
| sinn (we) | GáirimidWe laugh | Ní gháirimidWe do not laugh | An ngáirimid?Do we laugh? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Gáireann sibhYou laugh | Ní gháireann sibhYou do not laugh | An ngáireann sibh?Do you laugh? |
| siad (they) | Gáireann siadThey laugh | Ní gháireann siadThey do not laugh | An ngáireann siad?Do they laugh? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Gáirtear | Ní gháirtear | An ngáirtear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Gáirfidh méI will laugh | Ní gháirfidh méI will not laugh | An ngáirfidh mé?Will I laugh? |
| tú (you) | Gáirfidh túYou will laugh | Ní gháirfidh túYou will not laugh | An ngáirfidh tú?Will you laugh? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Gáirfidh sé / síHe will laugh | Ní gháirfidh sé / síHe will not laugh | An ngáirfidh sé / sí?Will he laugh? |
| sinn (we) | GáirfimidWe will laugh | Ní gháirfimidWe will not laugh | An ngáirfimid?Will we laugh? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Gáirfidh sibhYou will laugh | Ní gháirfidh sibhYou will not laugh | An ngáirfidh sibh?Will you laugh? |
| siad (they) | Gáirfidh siadThey will laugh | Ní gháirfidh siadThey will not laugh | An ngáirfidh siad?Will they laugh? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Gáirfear | Ní gháirfear | An ngáirfear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | GháirfinnI would laugh | Ní gháirfinnI would not laugh | An ngáirfinn?Would I laugh? |
| tú (you) | GháirfeáYou would laugh | Ní gháirfeáYou would not laugh | An ngáirfeá?Would you laugh? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Gháirfeadh sé / síHe would laugh | Ní gháirfeadh sé / síHe would not laugh | An ngáirfeadh sé / sí?Would he laugh? |
| sinn (we) | GháirfimisWe would laugh | Ní gháirfimisWe would not laugh | An ngáirfimis?Would we laugh? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Gháirfeadh sibhYou would laugh | Ní gháirfeadh sibhYou would not laugh | An ngáirfeadh sibh?Would you laugh? |
| siad (they) | GháirfidísThey would laugh | Ní gháirfidísThey would not laugh | An ngáirfidís?Would they laugh? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Gháirfí | Ní gháirfí | An ngáirfí? |
“Gáir” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Gháir sí nuair a chuala sí an scéal.
She laughed when she heard the story.
Gáireann na páistí faoin gcoileán.
The children laugh at the puppy.
Gáirfidh siad nuair a fheicfidh siad thú.
They will laugh when they see you.
Gháirfeadh sé dá mbeadh sé anseo.
He would laugh if he were here.
Níor gháir aon duine faoin scéal grinn.
Nobody laughed at the joke.
Ar gháir tú faoin scannán?
Did you laugh at the film?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To laugh in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to laugh?
The Irish for to laugh is gáir (pronounced “gawr”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is gáire.
What is the verbal noun of gáir?
The verbal noun of gáir is gáire, used after ag for the continuous: ag gáire (laughing). The verbal adjective is gáirthe.
How do you say gáir in the past and the future?
Past: Gháir mé; negative Níor gháir mé; question Ar gháir mé?. Future: Gáirfidh mé; negative Ní gháirfidh mé; question An ngáirfidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of gáir?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Gháirfinn (I would laugh); negative Ní gháirfinn; question An ngáirfinn?.
Does gáir have more than one meaning?
Yes. Gáir can mean to laugh or to shout, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'laugh at something' with 'gáir'?
Use the preposition 'faoi': 'gáir faoi', as in 'Bhí siad ag gáire fúm', they were laughing at me.
Is 'gáire' a noun as well?
Yes, 'gáire' is both the verbal noun and the noun for a laugh, as in 'rinne sé gáire', he laughed.
