HeyRuaHow to say “to nearly do” in Irish
- Irish:
- fóbair
- English:
- to nearly do, attack, attempt
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- fóbairt (ag fóbairt, nearly doing)
- Verbal adjective:
- fóbartha
- Pronunciation:
- “FOH-bir” /foːbəɾʲ/
What does “fóbair” mean?
“Fóbair” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to nearly do
- Used mainly in the past form 'd'fhóbair' to say that something almost happened.Also: almost do, come close to, be on the point of.
2 other meanings: attack or attempt
- 2to attack
- To set upon or attack someone or something.Also: set upon, assail.
- 3to attempt
- To set about or try to do something.Also: set about, undertake, try.
“Fóbair” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'fhóbair méI nearlied do | Níor fhóbair méI did not nearly do | Ar fhóbair mé?Did I nearly do? |
| tú (you) | D'fhóbair túYou nearlied do | Níor fhóbair túYou did not nearly do | Ar fhóbair tú?Did you nearly do? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'fhóbair sé / síHe nearlied do | Níor fhóbair sé / síHe did not nearly do | Ar fhóbair sé / sí?Did he nearly do? |
| sinn (we) | D'fhóbraíomarWe nearlied do | Níor fhóbraíomarWe did not nearly do | Ar fhóbraíomar?Did we nearly do? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'fhóbair sibhYou nearlied do | Níor fhóbair sibhYou did not nearly do | Ar fhóbair sibh?Did you nearly do? |
| siad (they) | D'fhóbair siadThey nearlied do | Níor fhóbair siadThey did not nearly do | Ar fhóbair siad?Did they nearly do? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Fóbraíodh | Níor fóbraíodh | Ar fóbraíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | FóbraímI nearly do | Ní fhóbraímI do not nearly do | An bhfóbraím?Do I nearly do? |
| tú (you) | Fóbraíonn túYou nearly do | Ní fhóbraíonn túYou do not nearly do | An bhfóbraíonn tú?Do you nearly do? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Fóbraíonn sé / síHe nearlies do | Ní fhóbraíonn sé / síHe does not nearly do | An bhfóbraíonn sé / sí?Does he nearly do? |
| sinn (we) | FóbraímidWe nearly do | Ní fhóbraímidWe do not nearly do | An bhfóbraímid?Do we nearly do? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Fóbraíonn sibhYou nearly do | Ní fhóbraíonn sibhYou do not nearly do | An bhfóbraíonn sibh?Do you nearly do? |
| siad (they) | Fóbraíonn siadThey nearly do | Ní fhóbraíonn siadThey do not nearly do | An bhfóbraíonn siad?Do they nearly do? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Fóbraítear | Ní fhóbraítear | An bhfóbraítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Fóbróidh méI will nearly do | Ní fhóbróidh méI will not nearly do | An bhfóbróidh mé?Will I nearly do? |
| tú (you) | Fóbróidh túYou will nearly do | Ní fhóbróidh túYou will not nearly do | An bhfóbróidh tú?Will you nearly do? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Fóbróidh sé / síHe will nearly do | Ní fhóbróidh sé / síHe will not nearly do | An bhfóbróidh sé / sí?Will he nearly do? |
| sinn (we) | FóbróimidWe will nearly do | Ní fhóbróimidWe will not nearly do | An bhfóbróimid?Will we nearly do? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Fóbróidh sibhYou will nearly do | Ní fhóbróidh sibhYou will not nearly do | An bhfóbróidh sibh?Will you nearly do? |
| siad (they) | Fóbróidh siadThey will nearly do | Ní fhóbróidh siadThey will not nearly do | An bhfóbróidh siad?Will they nearly do? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Fóbrófar | Ní fhóbrófar | An bhfóbrófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'fhóbróinnI would nearly do | Ní fhóbróinnI would not nearly do | An bhfóbróinn?Would I nearly do? |
| tú (you) | D'fhóbrófáYou would nearly do | Ní fhóbrófáYou would not nearly do | An bhfóbrófá?Would you nearly do? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'fhóbródh sé / síHe would nearly do | Ní fhóbródh sé / síHe would not nearly do | An bhfóbródh sé / sí?Would he nearly do? |
| sinn (we) | D'fhóbróimisWe would nearly do | Ní fhóbróimisWe would not nearly do | An bhfóbróimis?Would we nearly do? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'fhóbródh sibhYou would nearly do | Ní fhóbródh sibhYou would not nearly do | An bhfóbródh sibh?Would you nearly do? |
| siad (they) | D'fhóbróidísThey would nearly do | Ní fhóbróidísThey would not nearly do | An bhfóbróidís?Would they nearly do? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | D'fhóbrófaí | Ní fhóbrófaí | An bhfóbrófaí? |
“Fóbair” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
D'fhóbair dom titim ar an leac oighir.
I nearly fell on the ice.
Fóbraíonn sé an obair go díograiseach gach maidin.
He sets about the work eagerly every morning.
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To nearly do in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to nearly do?
The Irish for to nearly do is fóbair (pronounced “FOH-bir”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is fóbairt.
What is the verbal noun of fóbair?
The verbal noun of fóbair is fóbairt, used after ag for the continuous: ag fóbairt (nearly doing). The verbal adjective is fóbartha.
How do you say fóbair in the past and the future?
Past: D'fhóbair mé; negative Níor fhóbair mé; question Ar fhóbair mé?. Future: Fóbróidh mé; negative Ní fhóbróidh mé; question An bhfóbróidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of fóbair?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is D'fhóbróinn (I would nearly do); negative Ní fhóbróinn; question An bhfóbróinn?.
Does fóbair have more than one meaning?
Yes. Fóbair can mean to nearly do, to attack or to attempt, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'I almost fell' with this verb?
Use the past form with dom: 'D'fhóbair dom titim', or 'D'fhóbair go dtitfinn'.
Is 'fóbair' common in everyday speech?
Mostly in the fixed past form 'd'fhóbair' meaning 'nearly'; for 'attack' learners normally use 'ionsaigh'.
