HeyRuaHow to say “to sharpen” in Irish
- Irish:
- géaraigh
- English:
- to sharpen, intensify, quicken, sour
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- géarú (ag géarú, sharpening)
- Verbal adjective:
- géaraithe
- Pronunciation:
- “GAYR-ee” /ˈɟeːɾˠiː/
What does “géaraigh” mean?
“Géaraigh” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to sharpen
- To make a blade or point sharper.Also: whet, hone.
3 other meanings: intensify or quicken or sour
- 2to intensify
- To make or become stronger, more severe or more acute.Also: worsen, exacerbate, heighten.
- 3to quicken
- To make or become faster, as of pace or step.Also: speed up, hasten.
- 4to sour
- To make or become sour or sharp in taste.Also: turn sour.
“Géaraigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Ghéaraigh méI sharpened | Níor ghéaraigh méI did not sharpen | Ar ghéaraigh mé?Did I sharpen? |
| tú (you) | Ghéaraigh túYou sharpened | Níor ghéaraigh túYou did not sharpen | Ar ghéaraigh tú?Did you sharpen? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ghéaraigh sé / síHe sharpened | Níor ghéaraigh sé / síHe did not sharpen | Ar ghéaraigh sé / sí?Did he sharpen? |
| sinn (we) | GhéaraíomarWe sharpened | Níor ghéaraíomarWe did not sharpen | Ar ghéaraíomar?Did we sharpen? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ghéaraigh sibhYou sharpened | Níor ghéaraigh sibhYou did not sharpen | Ar ghéaraigh sibh?Did you sharpen? |
| siad (they) | Ghéaraigh siadThey sharpened | Níor ghéaraigh siadThey did not sharpen | Ar ghéaraigh siad?Did they sharpen? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Géaraíodh | Níor géaraíodh | Ar géaraíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | GéaraímI sharpen | Ní ghéaraímI do not sharpen | An ngéaraím?Do I sharpen? |
| tú (you) | Géaraíonn túYou sharpen | Ní ghéaraíonn túYou do not sharpen | An ngéaraíonn tú?Do you sharpen? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Géaraíonn sé / síHe sharpens | Ní ghéaraíonn sé / síHe does not sharpen | An ngéaraíonn sé / sí?Does he sharpen? |
| sinn (we) | GéaraímidWe sharpen | Ní ghéaraímidWe do not sharpen | An ngéaraímid?Do we sharpen? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Géaraíonn sibhYou sharpen | Ní ghéaraíonn sibhYou do not sharpen | An ngéaraíonn sibh?Do you sharpen? |
| siad (they) | Géaraíonn siadThey sharpen | Ní ghéaraíonn siadThey do not sharpen | An ngéaraíonn siad?Do they sharpen? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Géaraítear | Ní ghéaraítear | An ngéaraítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Géaróidh méI will sharpen | Ní ghéaróidh méI will not sharpen | An ngéaróidh mé?Will I sharpen? |
| tú (you) | Géaróidh túYou will sharpen | Ní ghéaróidh túYou will not sharpen | An ngéaróidh tú?Will you sharpen? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Géaróidh sé / síHe will sharpen | Ní ghéaróidh sé / síHe will not sharpen | An ngéaróidh sé / sí?Will he sharpen? |
| sinn (we) | GéaróimidWe will sharpen | Ní ghéaróimidWe will not sharpen | An ngéaróimid?Will we sharpen? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Géaróidh sibhYou will sharpen | Ní ghéaróidh sibhYou will not sharpen | An ngéaróidh sibh?Will you sharpen? |
| siad (they) | Géaróidh siadThey will sharpen | Ní ghéaróidh siadThey will not sharpen | An ngéaróidh siad?Will they sharpen? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Géarófar | Ní ghéarófar | An ngéarófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | GhéaróinnI would sharpen | Ní ghéaróinnI would not sharpen | An ngéaróinn?Would I sharpen? |
| tú (you) | GhéarófáYou would sharpen | Ní ghéarófáYou would not sharpen | An ngéarófá?Would you sharpen? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ghéaródh sé / síHe would sharpen | Ní ghéaródh sé / síHe would not sharpen | An ngéaródh sé / sí?Would he sharpen? |
| sinn (we) | GhéaróimisWe would sharpen | Ní ghéaróimisWe would not sharpen | An ngéaróimis?Would we sharpen? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ghéaródh sibhYou would sharpen | Ní ghéaródh sibhYou would not sharpen | An ngéaródh sibh?Would you sharpen? |
| siad (they) | GhéaróidísThey would sharpen | Ní ghéaróidísThey would not sharpen | An ngéaróidís?Would they sharpen? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Ghéarófaí | Ní ghéarófaí | An ngéarófaí? |
“Géaraigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Ghéaraigh sé an scian roimh an dinnéar.
He sharpened the knife before dinner.
Géaraíonn an fuacht san oíche.
The cold intensifies at night.
Géaróidh mé na sceana amárach.
I will sharpen the knives tomorrow.
Ghéaródh sin an choimhlint, is dócha.
That would probably intensify the conflict.
Níor ghéaraigh sí an peann luaidhe fós.
She hasn't sharpened the pencil yet.
Ar ghéaraigh tú an tua?
Did you sharpen the axe?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To sharpen in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to sharpen?
The Irish for to sharpen is géaraigh (pronounced “GAYR-ee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is géarú.
What is the verbal noun of géaraigh?
The verbal noun of géaraigh is géarú, used after ag for the continuous: ag géarú (sharpening). The verbal adjective is géaraithe.
How do you say géaraigh in the past and the future?
Past: Ghéaraigh mé; negative Níor ghéaraigh mé; question Ar ghéaraigh mé?. Future: Géaróidh mé; negative Ní ghéaróidh mé; question An ngéaróidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of géaraigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Ghéaróinn (I would sharpen); negative Ní ghéaróinn; question An ngéaróinn?.
Does géaraigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Géaraigh can mean to sharpen, to intensify, to quicken or to sour, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'quicken your pace' with 'géaraigh'?
Use 'géaraigh ar': 'Ghéaraigh sé ar a choiscéim' means 'He quickened his step'.
