HeyRuaHow to say “to promise” in Irish
- Irish:
- geall
- English:
- to promise, bet, allot
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- gealladh (ag gealladh, promising)
- Verbal adjective:
- geallta
- Pronunciation:
- “gyowl” /ɟaul̪ˠ/
What does “geall” mean?
“Geall” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to promise
- To say firmly that you will do something or that something will happen.Also: pledge, vow, assure.
2 other meanings: bet or allot
- 2to bet
- To risk money or something else on the result of an event.Also: wager, stake.
- 3to allot
- To destine or assign something to someone, as if by promise.Also: destine, assign.
“Geall” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Gheall méI promised | Níor gheall méI did not promise | Ar gheall mé?Did I promise? |
| tú (you) | Gheall túYou promised | Níor gheall túYou did not promise | Ar gheall tú?Did you promise? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Gheall sé / síHe promised | Níor gheall sé / síHe did not promise | Ar gheall sé / sí?Did he promise? |
| sinn (we) | GheallamarWe promised | Níor gheallamarWe did not promise | Ar gheallamar?Did we promise? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Gheall sibhYou promised | Níor gheall sibhYou did not promise | Ar gheall sibh?Did you promise? |
| siad (they) | Gheall siadThey promised | Níor gheall siadThey did not promise | Ar gheall siad?Did they promise? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Gealladh | Níor gealladh | Ar gealladh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | GeallaimI promise | Ní gheallaimI do not promise | An ngeallaim?Do I promise? |
| tú (you) | Geallann túYou promise | Ní gheallann túYou do not promise | An ngeallann tú?Do you promise? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Geallann sé / síHe promises | Ní gheallann sé / síHe does not promise | An ngeallann sé / sí?Does he promise? |
| sinn (we) | GeallaimidWe promise | Ní gheallaimidWe do not promise | An ngeallaimid?Do we promise? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Geallann sibhYou promise | Ní gheallann sibhYou do not promise | An ngeallann sibh?Do you promise? |
| siad (they) | Geallann siadThey promise | Ní gheallann siadThey do not promise | An ngeallann siad?Do they promise? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Gealltar | Ní ghealltar | An ngealltar? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Geallfaidh méI will promise | Ní gheallfaidh méI will not promise | An ngeallfaidh mé?Will I promise? |
| tú (you) | Geallfaidh túYou will promise | Ní gheallfaidh túYou will not promise | An ngeallfaidh tú?Will you promise? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Geallfaidh sé / síHe will promise | Ní gheallfaidh sé / síHe will not promise | An ngeallfaidh sé / sí?Will he promise? |
| sinn (we) | GeallfaimidWe will promise | Ní gheallfaimidWe will not promise | An ngeallfaimid?Will we promise? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Geallfaidh sibhYou will promise | Ní gheallfaidh sibhYou will not promise | An ngeallfaidh sibh?Will you promise? |
| siad (they) | Geallfaidh siadThey will promise | Ní gheallfaidh siadThey will not promise | An ngeallfaidh siad?Will they promise? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Geallfar | Ní gheallfar | An ngeallfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | GheallfainnI would promise | Ní gheallfainnI would not promise | An ngeallfainn?Would I promise? |
| tú (you) | GheallfáYou would promise | Ní gheallfáYou would not promise | An ngeallfá?Would you promise? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Gheallfadh sé / síHe would promise | Ní gheallfadh sé / síHe would not promise | An ngeallfadh sé / sí?Would he promise? |
| sinn (we) | GheallfaimisWe would promise | Ní gheallfaimisWe would not promise | An ngeallfaimis?Would we promise? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Gheallfadh sibhYou would promise | Ní gheallfadh sibhYou would not promise | An ngeallfadh sibh?Would you promise? |
| siad (they) | GheallfaidísThey would promise | Ní gheallfaidísThey would not promise | An ngeallfaidís?Would they promise? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Gheallfaí | Ní gheallfaí | An ngeallfaí? |
“Geall” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Gheall sé dom go dtiocfadh sé ar ais.
He promised me that he would come back.
Geallaim duit go mbeidh sé déanta amárach.
I promise you it will be done tomorrow.
Geallfaidh mé di go gcabhróidh mé léi.
I will promise her that I will help her.
Gheall sí go mbeadh sí ann in am.
She promised she would be there on time.
Níor gheall mé aon rud duit.
I didn't promise you anything.
Ar gheall tú di go scríobhfá chuici?
Did you promise her that you would write to her?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To promise in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to promise?
The Irish for to promise is geall (pronounced “gyowl”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is gealladh.
What is the verbal noun of geall?
The verbal noun of geall is gealladh, used after ag for the continuous: ag gealladh (promising). The verbal adjective is geallta.
How do you say geall in the past and the future?
Past: Gheall mé; negative Níor gheall mé; question Ar gheall mé?. Future: Geallfaidh mé; negative Ní gheallfaidh mé; question An ngeallfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of geall?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Gheallfainn (I would promise); negative Ní gheallfainn; question An ngeallfainn?.
Does geall have more than one meaning?
Yes. Geall can mean to promise, to bet or to allot, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Which preposition does 'geall' take for the person promised?
Use 'do': 'Gheall mé do Mháire é' means 'I promised it to Máire'.
How do you say 'to bet on something'?
Usually with the noun: 'geall a chur ar rud', for example 'Cuirfidh mé geall air', 'I'll bet on it'.
