HeyRuaHow to say “to search” in Irish
- Irish:
- cuardaigh
- English:
- to search, look for
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- cuardach (ag cuardach, searching)
- Verbal adjective:
- cuardaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “KOOR-dee” /ˈkuəɾˠd̪ˠə/
What does “cuardaigh” mean?
“Cuardaigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to search
- To look carefully through a place or thing to find something.Also: search through, go through, rummage.
1 other meaning: look for
- 2to look for
- To try to find someone or something.Also: search for, seek, hunt for.
Other Irish verbs for to search: siortáil (rummage)
“Cuardaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Chuardaigh méI searched | Níor chuardaigh méI did not search | Ar chuardaigh mé?Did I search? |
| tú (you) | Chuardaigh túYou searched | Níor chuardaigh túYou did not search | Ar chuardaigh tú?Did you search? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chuardaigh sé / síHe searched | Níor chuardaigh sé / síHe did not search | Ar chuardaigh sé / sí?Did he search? |
| sinn (we) | ChuardaíomarWe searched | Níor chuardaíomarWe did not search | Ar chuardaíomar?Did we search? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chuardaigh sibhYou searched | Níor chuardaigh sibhYou did not search | Ar chuardaigh sibh?Did you search? |
| siad (they) | Chuardaigh siadThey searched | Níor chuardaigh siadThey did not search | Ar chuardaigh siad?Did they search? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cuardaíodh | Níor cuardaíodh | Ar cuardaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CuardaímI search | Ní chuardaímI do not search | An gcuardaím?Do I search? |
| tú (you) | Cuardaíonn túYou search | Ní chuardaíonn túYou do not search | An gcuardaíonn tú?Do you search? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cuardaíonn sé / síHe searches | Ní chuardaíonn sé / síHe does not search | An gcuardaíonn sé / sí?Does he search? |
| sinn (we) | CuardaímidWe search | Ní chuardaímidWe do not search | An gcuardaímid?Do we search? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cuardaíonn sibhYou search | Ní chuardaíonn sibhYou do not search | An gcuardaíonn sibh?Do you search? |
| siad (they) | Cuardaíonn siadThey search | Ní chuardaíonn siadThey do not search | An gcuardaíonn siad?Do they search? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cuardaítear | Ní chuardaítear | An gcuardaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Cuardóidh méI will search | Ní chuardóidh méI will not search | An gcuardóidh mé?Will I search? |
| tú (you) | Cuardóidh túYou will search | Ní chuardóidh túYou will not search | An gcuardóidh tú?Will you search? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cuardóidh sé / síHe will search | Ní chuardóidh sé / síHe will not search | An gcuardóidh sé / sí?Will he search? |
| sinn (we) | CuardóimidWe will search | Ní chuardóimidWe will not search | An gcuardóimid?Will we search? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cuardóidh sibhYou will search | Ní chuardóidh sibhYou will not search | An gcuardóidh sibh?Will you search? |
| siad (they) | Cuardóidh siadThey will search | Ní chuardóidh siadThey will not search | An gcuardóidh siad?Will they search? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cuardófar | Ní chuardófar | An gcuardófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChuardóinnI would search | Ní chuardóinnI would not search | An gcuardóinn?Would I search? |
| tú (you) | ChuardófáYou would search | Ní chuardófáYou would not search | An gcuardófá?Would you search? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chuardódh sé / síHe would search | Ní chuardódh sé / síHe would not search | An gcuardódh sé / sí?Would he search? |
| sinn (we) | ChuardóimisWe would search | Ní chuardóimisWe would not search | An gcuardóimis?Would we search? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chuardódh sibhYou would search | Ní chuardódh sibhYou would not search | An gcuardódh sibh?Would you search? |
| siad (they) | ChuardóidísThey would search | Ní chuardóidísThey would not search | An gcuardóidís?Would they search? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Chuardófaí | Ní chuardófaí | An gcuardófaí? |
“Cuardaigh” 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 search in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to search?
The Irish for to search is cuardaigh (pronounced “KOOR-dee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is cuardach.
What is the verbal noun of cuardaigh?
The verbal noun of cuardaigh is cuardach, used after ag for the continuous: ag cuardach (searching). The verbal adjective is cuardaithe.
How do you say cuardaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Chuardaigh mé; negative Níor chuardaigh mé; question Ar chuardaigh mé?. Future: Cuardóidh mé; negative Ní chuardóidh mé; question An gcuardóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of cuardaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Chuardóinn (I would search); negative Ní chuardóinn; question An gcuardóinn?.
Does cuardaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cuardaigh can mean to search or to look for, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'cuardaigh' and 'lorg'?
Both mean to look for: 'cuardaigh' stresses searching through a place ('chuardaigh mé an seomra'), while 'lorg' means seek or ask for ('ag lorg oibre').
Does 'cuardaigh' need a preposition?
No, it takes a direct object: 'cuardaigh an seomra', search the room. With the verbal noun the object goes in the genitive: 'ag cuardach an tseomra'.
