HeyRuaHow to say “to pray” in Irish
- Irish:
- guigh
- English:
- to pray, wish, beg
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- guí (ag guí, praying)
- Verbal adjective:
- guite
- Pronunciation:
- “gwig” /ɡɪɟ/
What does “guigh” mean?
“Guigh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to pray
- To speak to God or a saint, asking for help or giving thanks.Also: say a prayer, pray for.
2 other meanings: wish or beg
- 2to wish
- To wish something for someone, often good luck or a blessing.Also: bless, wish well.
- 3to beg
- To ask someone earnestly for something, such as mercy.Also: entreat, implore, beseech.
“Guigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Ghuigh méI prayed | Níor ghuigh méI did not pray | Ar ghuigh mé?Did I pray? |
| tú (you) | Ghuigh túYou prayed | Níor ghuigh túYou did not pray | Ar ghuigh tú?Did you pray? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ghuigh sé / síHe prayed | Níor ghuigh sé / síHe did not pray | Ar ghuigh sé / sí?Did he pray? |
| sinn (we) | GhuíomarWe prayed | Níor ghuíomarWe did not pray | Ar ghuíomar?Did we pray? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ghuigh sibhYou prayed | Níor ghuigh sibhYou did not pray | Ar ghuigh sibh?Did you pray? |
| siad (they) | Ghuigh siadThey prayed | Níor ghuigh siadThey did not pray | Ar ghuigh siad?Did they pray? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Guíodh | Níor guíodh | Ar guíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | GuímI pray | Ní ghuímI do not pray | An nguím?Do I pray? |
| tú (you) | Guíonn túYou pray | Ní ghuíonn túYou do not pray | An nguíonn tú?Do you pray? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Guíonn sé / síHe prays | Ní ghuíonn sé / síHe does not pray | An nguíonn sé / sí?Does he pray? |
| sinn (we) | GuímidWe pray | Ní ghuímidWe do not pray | An nguímid?Do we pray? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Guíonn sibhYou pray | Ní ghuíonn sibhYou do not pray | An nguíonn sibh?Do you pray? |
| siad (they) | Guíonn siadThey pray | Ní ghuíonn siadThey do not pray | An nguíonn siad?Do they pray? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Guitear | Ní ghuitear | An nguitear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Guífidh méI will pray | Ní ghuífidh méI will not pray | An nguífidh mé?Will I pray? |
| tú (you) | Guífidh túYou will pray | Ní ghuífidh túYou will not pray | An nguífidh tú?Will you pray? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Guífidh sé / síHe will pray | Ní ghuífidh sé / síHe will not pray | An nguífidh sé / sí?Will he pray? |
| sinn (we) | GuífimidWe will pray | Ní ghuífimidWe will not pray | An nguífimid?Will we pray? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Guífidh sibhYou will pray | Ní ghuífidh sibhYou will not pray | An nguífidh sibh?Will you pray? |
| siad (they) | Guífidh siadThey will pray | Ní ghuífidh siadThey will not pray | An nguífidh siad?Will they pray? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Guífear | Ní ghuífear | An nguífear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | GhuífinnI would pray | Ní ghuífinnI would not pray | An nguífinn?Would I pray? |
| tú (you) | GhuífeáYou would pray | Ní ghuífeáYou would not pray | An nguífeá?Would you pray? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ghuífeadh sé / síHe would pray | Ní ghuífeadh sé / síHe would not pray | An nguífeadh sé / sí?Would he pray? |
| sinn (we) | GhuífimisWe would pray | Ní ghuífimisWe would not pray | An nguífimis?Would we pray? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ghuífeadh sibhYou would pray | Ní ghuífeadh sibhYou would not pray | An nguífeadh sibh?Would you pray? |
| siad (they) | GhuífidísThey would pray | Ní ghuífidísThey would not pray | An nguífidís?Would they pray? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Ghuífí | Ní ghuífí | An nguífí? |
“Guigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Ghuigh sí ar son a máthar aréir.
She prayed for her mother last night.
Guíonn siad gach maidin sa séipéal.
They pray every morning in the chapel.
Guífidh mé ar do shon.
I will pray for you.
Ghuífeadh sé dá mbeadh am aige.
He would pray if he had time.
Níor ghuigh mé le fada.
I haven't prayed for a long time.
Ar ghuigh tú roimh do dhinnéar?
Did you pray before your dinner?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To pray in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to pray?
The Irish for to pray is guigh (pronounced “gwig”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is guí.
What is the verbal noun of guigh?
The verbal noun of guigh is guí, used after ag for the continuous: ag guí (praying). The verbal adjective is guite.
How do you say guigh in the past and the future?
Past: Ghuigh mé; negative Níor ghuigh mé; question Ar ghuigh mé?. Future: Guífidh mé; negative Ní ghuífidh mé; question An nguífidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of guigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Ghuífinn (I would pray); negative Ní ghuífinn; question An nguífinn?.
Does guigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Guigh can mean to pray, to wish or to beg, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Which preposition does 'guigh' take for praying for someone?
Use 'ar son': 'Guigh ar a son' means 'Pray for her'. To pray to God is 'guigh chun Dé' or 'guigh ar Dhia'.
What is the Irish for 'praying'?
Use the verbal noun with 'ag': 'Tá sí ag guí' means 'She is praying'.
