HeyRuaHow to say “to prevent” in Irish
- Irish:
- coisc
- English:
- to prevent, forbid, restrain
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- cosc (ag cosc, preventing)
- Verbal adjective:
- coiscthe
- Pronunciation:
- “kushk” /kɔʃkʲ/
What does “coisc” mean?
“Coisc” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to prevent
- To stop something from happening or someone from doing something.Also: stop, check, hinder, block.
2 other meanings: forbid or restrain
- 2to forbid
- To officially ban or prohibit something.Also: prohibit, ban, bar.
- 3to restrain
- To hold back, suppress or keep something under control, such as bleeding or thirst.Also: suppress, stem, stanch, allay.
“Coisc” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Choisc méI prevented | Níor choisc méI did not prevent | Ar choisc mé?Did I prevent? |
| tú (you) | Choisc túYou prevented | Níor choisc túYou did not prevent | Ar choisc tú?Did you prevent? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Choisc sé / síHe prevented | Níor choisc sé / síHe did not prevent | Ar choisc sé / sí?Did he prevent? |
| sinn (we) | ChoisceamarWe prevented | Níor choisceamarWe did not prevent | Ar choisceamar?Did we prevent? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Choisc sibhYou prevented | Níor choisc sibhYou did not prevent | Ar choisc sibh?Did you prevent? |
| siad (they) | Choisc siadThey prevented | Níor choisc siadThey did not prevent | Ar choisc siad?Did they prevent? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Coisceadh | Níor coisceadh | Ar coisceadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CoiscimI prevent | Ní choiscimI do not prevent | An gcoiscim?Do I prevent? |
| tú (you) | Coisceann túYou prevent | Ní choisceann túYou do not prevent | An gcoisceann tú?Do you prevent? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Coisceann sé / síHe prevents | Ní choisceann sé / síHe does not prevent | An gcoisceann sé / sí?Does he prevent? |
| sinn (we) | CoiscimidWe prevent | Ní choiscimidWe do not prevent | An gcoiscimid?Do we prevent? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Coisceann sibhYou prevent | Ní choisceann sibhYou do not prevent | An gcoisceann sibh?Do you prevent? |
| siad (they) | Coisceann siadThey prevent | Ní choisceann siadThey do not prevent | An gcoisceann siad?Do they prevent? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Coisctear | Ní choisctear | An gcoisctear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Coiscfidh méI will prevent | Ní choiscfidh méI will not prevent | An gcoiscfidh mé?Will I prevent? |
| tú (you) | Coiscfidh túYou will prevent | Ní choiscfidh túYou will not prevent | An gcoiscfidh tú?Will you prevent? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Coiscfidh sé / síHe will prevent | Ní choiscfidh sé / síHe will not prevent | An gcoiscfidh sé / sí?Will he prevent? |
| sinn (we) | CoiscfimidWe will prevent | Ní choiscfimidWe will not prevent | An gcoiscfimid?Will we prevent? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Coiscfidh sibhYou will prevent | Ní choiscfidh sibhYou will not prevent | An gcoiscfidh sibh?Will you prevent? |
| siad (they) | Coiscfidh siadThey will prevent | Ní choiscfidh siadThey will not prevent | An gcoiscfidh siad?Will they prevent? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Coiscfear | Ní choiscfear | An gcoiscfear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChoiscfinnI would prevent | Ní choiscfinnI would not prevent | An gcoiscfinn?Would I prevent? |
| tú (you) | ChoiscfeáYou would prevent | Ní choiscfeáYou would not prevent | An gcoiscfeá?Would you prevent? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Choiscfeadh sé / síHe would prevent | Ní choiscfeadh sé / síHe would not prevent | An gcoiscfeadh sé / sí?Would he prevent? |
| sinn (we) | ChoiscfimisWe would prevent | Ní choiscfimisWe would not prevent | An gcoiscfimis?Would we prevent? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Choiscfeadh sibhYou would prevent | Ní choiscfeadh sibhYou would not prevent | An gcoiscfeadh sibh?Would you prevent? |
| siad (they) | ChoiscfidísThey would prevent | Ní choiscfidísThey would not prevent | An gcoiscfidís?Would they prevent? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Choiscfí | Ní choiscfí | An gcoiscfí? |
“Coisc” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Choisc an múinteoir an troid sa chlós.
The teacher stopped the fight in the yard.
Coisceann an dlí caitheamh tobac sa phub.
The law prohibits smoking in the pub.
Coiscfidh an bháisteach orainn dul amach.
The rain will prevent us from going out.
Choisc an t-otharcharr an trácht ar an mbóthar.
The ambulance stopped the traffic on the road.
Níor choisc sé an fhuil a bhí ag sileadh.
He did not stem the bleeding.
Choisc an garda an carr ag an droichead.
The guard stopped the car at the bridge.
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To prevent in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to prevent?
The Irish for to prevent is coisc (pronounced “kushk”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is cosc.
What is the verbal noun of coisc?
The verbal noun of coisc is cosc, used after ag for the continuous: ag cosc (preventing). The verbal adjective is coiscthe.
How do you say coisc in the past and the future?
Past: Choisc mé; negative Níor choisc mé; question Ar choisc mé?. Future: Coiscfidh mé; negative Ní choiscfidh mé; question An gcoiscfidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of coisc?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Choiscfinn (I would prevent); negative Ní choiscfinn; question An gcoiscfinn?.
Does coisc have more than one meaning?
Yes. Coisc can mean to prevent, to forbid or to restrain, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Which preposition does 'coisc' take?
You prevent something on someone with 'ar': 'Choisc sé orm imeacht' means he prevented me from leaving.
How do you say 'to ban' using the verbal noun?
The phrase 'cosc a chur ar' is very common: 'Cuireadh cosc ar thobac' means tobacco was banned.
