HeyRuaHow to say “to learn” in Irish
- Irish:
- foghlaim
- English:
- to learn, teach
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- foghlaim (ag foghlaim, learning)
- Verbal adjective:
- foghlamtha
- Pronunciation:
- “FOW-lim” /ˈfˠəul̪ˠəmʲ/
What does “foghlaim” mean?
“Foghlaim” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to learn
- To gain knowledge or a skill by study, practice or experience.Also: study, pick up, acquire.
1 other meaning: teach
- 2to teach
- To teach or instruct someone, an older or literary use found in Ó Dónaill.Also: instruct, educate.
Other entries for “foghlaim”
The same spelling has its own page as:
“Foghlaim” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'fhoghlaim méI learnt | Níor fhoghlaim méI did not learn | Ar fhoghlaim mé?Did I learn? |
| tú (you) | D'fhoghlaim túYou learnt | Níor fhoghlaim túYou did not learn | Ar fhoghlaim tú?Did you learn? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'fhoghlaim sé / síHe learnt | Níor fhoghlaim sé / síHe did not learn | Ar fhoghlaim sé / sí?Did he learn? |
| sinn (we) | D'fhoghlaimíomarWe learnt | Níor fhoghlaimíomarWe did not learn | Ar fhoghlaimíomar?Did we learn? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'fhoghlaim sibhYou learnt | Níor fhoghlaim sibhYou did not learn | Ar fhoghlaim sibh?Did you learn? |
| siad (they) | D'fhoghlaim siadThey learnt | Níor fhoghlaim siadThey did not learn | Ar fhoghlaim siad?Did they learn? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Foghlaimíodh | Níor foghlaimíodh | Ar foghlaimíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | FoghlaimímI learn | Ní fhoghlaimímI do not learn | An bhfoghlaimím?Do I learn? |
| tú (you) | Foghlaimíonn túYou learn | Ní fhoghlaimíonn túYou do not learn | An bhfoghlaimíonn tú?Do you learn? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Foghlaimíonn sé / síHe learns | Ní fhoghlaimíonn sé / síHe does not learn | An bhfoghlaimíonn sé / sí?Does he learn? |
| sinn (we) | FoghlaimímidWe learn | Ní fhoghlaimímidWe do not learn | An bhfoghlaimímid?Do we learn? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Foghlaimíonn sibhYou learn | Ní fhoghlaimíonn sibhYou do not learn | An bhfoghlaimíonn sibh?Do you learn? |
| siad (they) | Foghlaimíonn siadThey learn | Ní fhoghlaimíonn siadThey do not learn | An bhfoghlaimíonn siad?Do they learn? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Foghlaimítear | Ní fhoghlaimítear | An bhfoghlaimítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Foghlaimeoidh méI will learn | Ní fhoghlaimeoidh méI will not learn | An bhfoghlaimeoidh mé?Will I learn? |
| tú (you) | Foghlaimeoidh túYou will learn | Ní fhoghlaimeoidh túYou will not learn | An bhfoghlaimeoidh tú?Will you learn? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Foghlaimeoidh sé / síHe will learn | Ní fhoghlaimeoidh sé / síHe will not learn | An bhfoghlaimeoidh sé / sí?Will he learn? |
| sinn (we) | FoghlaimeoimidWe will learn | Ní fhoghlaimeoimidWe will not learn | An bhfoghlaimeoimid?Will we learn? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Foghlaimeoidh sibhYou will learn | Ní fhoghlaimeoidh sibhYou will not learn | An bhfoghlaimeoidh sibh?Will you learn? |
| siad (they) | Foghlaimeoidh siadThey will learn | Ní fhoghlaimeoidh siadThey will not learn | An bhfoghlaimeoidh siad?Will they learn? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Foghlaimeofar | Ní fhoghlaimeofar | An bhfoghlaimeofar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'fhoghlaimeoinnI would learn | Ní fhoghlaimeoinnI would not learn | An bhfoghlaimeoinn?Would I learn? |
| tú (you) | D'fhoghlaimeofáYou would learn | Ní fhoghlaimeofáYou would not learn | An bhfoghlaimeofá?Would you learn? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'fhoghlaimeodh sé / síHe would learn | Ní fhoghlaimeodh sé / síHe would not learn | An bhfoghlaimeodh sé / sí?Would he learn? |
| sinn (we) | D'fhoghlaimeoimisWe would learn | Ní fhoghlaimeoimisWe would not learn | An bhfoghlaimeoimis?Would we learn? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'fhoghlaimeodh sibhYou would learn | Ní fhoghlaimeodh sibhYou would not learn | An bhfoghlaimeodh sibh?Would you learn? |
| siad (they) | D'fhoghlaimeoidísThey would learn | Ní fhoghlaimeoidísThey would not learn | An bhfoghlaimeoidís?Would they learn? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | D'fhoghlaimeofaí | Ní fhoghlaimeofaí | An bhfoghlaimeofaí? |
“Foghlaim” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
D'fhoghlaim mé Fraincis ar scoil.
I learned French at school.
Foghlaimíonn páistí go tapa.
Children learn quickly.
Foghlaimeoidh tú an t-amhrán sin go héasca.
You will learn that song easily.
D'fhoghlaimeodh sé níos mó dá n-éistfeadh sé.
He would learn more if he listened.
Níor fhoghlaim sí riamh conas snámh a dhéanamh.
She never learned how to swim.
Ar fhoghlaim tú an dán fós?
Have you learned the poem yet?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To learn in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to learn?
The Irish for to learn is foghlaim (pronounced “FOW-lim”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is foghlaim.
What is the verbal noun of foghlaim?
The verbal noun of foghlaim is foghlaim, used after ag for the continuous: ag foghlaim (learning). The verbal adjective is foghlamtha.
How do you say foghlaim in the past and the future?
Past: D'fhoghlaim mé; negative Níor fhoghlaim mé; question Ar fhoghlaim mé?. Future: Foghlaimeoidh mé; negative Ní fhoghlaimeoidh mé; question An bhfoghlaimeoidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of foghlaim?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is D'fhoghlaimeoinn (I would learn); negative Ní fhoghlaimeoinn; question An bhfoghlaimeoinn?.
Does foghlaim have more than one meaning?
Yes. Foghlaim can mean to learn or to teach, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'foghlaim' and 'múin'?
'Foghlaim' means to learn, 'múin' means to teach: d'fhoghlaim mé Gaeilge, but mhúin sí Gaeilge dom.
Which preposition is used with 'foghlaim' for learning from someone?
Use 'ó': d'fhoghlaim mé é ó m'athair, I learned it from my father.
