HeyRuaHow to say “to question” in Irish
- Irish:
- ceistigh
- English:
- to question, query
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- ceistiú (ag ceistiú, questioning)
- Verbal adjective:
- ceistithe
- Pronunciation:
- “KESH-tee” /ˈcɛʃtʲiː/
What does “ceistigh” mean?
“Ceistigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to question
- To ask someone questions, especially formally or closely, to find something out.Also: interrogate, quiz, examine.
1 other meaning: query
- 2to query
- To express doubt about something or call it into question.Also: doubt, challenge, call into question.
“Ceistigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Cheistigh méI questioned | Níor cheistigh méI did not question | Ar cheistigh mé?Did I question? |
| tú (you) | Cheistigh túYou questioned | Níor cheistigh túYou did not question | Ar cheistigh tú?Did you question? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cheistigh sé / síHe questioned | Níor cheistigh sé / síHe did not question | Ar cheistigh sé / sí?Did he question? |
| sinn (we) | CheistíomarWe questioned | Níor cheistíomarWe did not question | Ar cheistíomar?Did we question? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cheistigh sibhYou questioned | Níor cheistigh sibhYou did not question | Ar cheistigh sibh?Did you question? |
| siad (they) | Cheistigh siadThey questioned | Níor cheistigh siadThey did not question | Ar cheistigh siad?Did they question? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Ceistíodh | Níor ceistíodh | Ar ceistíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CeistímI question | Ní cheistímI do not question | An gceistím?Do I question? |
| tú (you) | Ceistíonn túYou question | Ní cheistíonn túYou do not question | An gceistíonn tú?Do you question? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ceistíonn sé / síHe questions | Ní cheistíonn sé / síHe does not question | An gceistíonn sé / sí?Does he question? |
| sinn (we) | CeistímidWe question | Ní cheistímidWe do not question | An gceistímid?Do we question? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ceistíonn sibhYou question | Ní cheistíonn sibhYou do not question | An gceistíonn sibh?Do you question? |
| siad (they) | Ceistíonn siadThey question | Ní cheistíonn siadThey do not question | An gceistíonn siad?Do they question? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Ceistítear | Ní cheistítear | An gceistítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Ceisteoidh méI will question | Ní cheisteoidh méI will not question | An gceisteoidh mé?Will I question? |
| tú (you) | Ceisteoidh túYou will question | Ní cheisteoidh túYou will not question | An gceisteoidh tú?Will you question? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ceisteoidh sé / síHe will question | Ní cheisteoidh sé / síHe will not question | An gceisteoidh sé / sí?Will he question? |
| sinn (we) | CeisteoimidWe will question | Ní cheisteoimidWe will not question | An gceisteoimid?Will we question? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ceisteoidh sibhYou will question | Ní cheisteoidh sibhYou will not question | An gceisteoidh sibh?Will you question? |
| siad (they) | Ceisteoidh siadThey will question | Ní cheisteoidh siadThey will not question | An gceisteoidh siad?Will they question? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Ceisteofar | Ní cheisteofar | An gceisteofar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CheisteoinnI would question | Ní cheisteoinnI would not question | An gceisteoinn?Would I question? |
| tú (you) | CheisteofáYou would question | Ní cheisteofáYou would not question | An gceisteofá?Would you question? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cheisteodh sé / síHe would question | Ní cheisteodh sé / síHe would not question | An gceisteodh sé / sí?Would he question? |
| sinn (we) | CheisteoimisWe would question | Ní cheisteoimisWe would not question | An gceisteoimis?Would we question? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cheisteodh sibhYou would question | Ní cheisteodh sibhYou would not question | An gceisteodh sibh?Would you question? |
| siad (they) | CheisteoidísThey would question | Ní cheisteoidísThey would not question | An gceisteoidís?Would they question? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cheisteofaí | Ní cheisteofaí | An gceisteofaí? |
“Ceistigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To question in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to question?
The Irish for to question is ceistigh (pronounced “KESH-tee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is ceistiú.
What is the verbal noun of ceistigh?
The verbal noun of ceistigh is ceistiú, used after ag for the continuous: ag ceistiú (questioning). The verbal adjective is ceistithe.
How do you say ceistigh in the past and the future?
Past: Cheistigh mé; negative Níor cheistigh mé; question Ar cheistigh mé?. Future: Ceisteoidh mé; negative Ní cheisteoidh mé; question An gceisteoidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of ceistigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Cheisteoinn (I would question); negative Ní cheisteoinn; question An gceisteoinn?.
Does ceistigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Ceistigh can mean to question or to query, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'ceistigh' and 'fiafraigh'?
'Fiafraigh' is the ordinary verb for asking a question, as in 'd'fhiafraigh sé díom', while 'ceistigh' means to question or interrogate someone, as in 'cheistigh na gardaí é'.
Does 'ceistigh' take a preposition?
No, the person questioned is the direct object: 'cheistigh sí an buachaill'. The topic follows 'faoi', as in 'cheistigh siad mé faoin airgead'.
