HeyRuaHow to say “to weep” in Irish
- Irish:
- goil
- English:
- to weep, grieve
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- gol (ag gol, weeping)
- Verbal adjective:
- goilte
- Pronunciation:
- “gil” /ɡolʲ/
What does “goil” mean?
“Goil” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to weep
- To cry or shed tears, often softly or with grief.Also: cry, shed tears, sob.
1 other meaning: grieve
- 2to grieve
- To weep or lament for someone; to grieve, mourn.Also: upset, hurt, distress.
Other Irish verbs for to weep: caoin (cry)
“Goil” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Ghoil méI wept | Níor ghoil méI did not weep | Ar ghoil mé?Did I weep? |
| tú (you) | Ghoil túYou wept | Níor ghoil túYou did not weep | Ar ghoil tú?Did you weep? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ghoil sé / síHe wept | Níor ghoil sé / síHe did not weep | Ar ghoil sé / sí?Did he weep? |
| sinn (we) | GhoileamarWe wept | Níor ghoileamarWe did not weep | Ar ghoileamar?Did we weep? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ghoil sibhYou wept | Níor ghoil sibhYou did not weep | Ar ghoil sibh?Did you weep? |
| siad (they) | Ghoil siadThey wept | Níor ghoil siadThey did not weep | Ar ghoil siad?Did they weep? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Goileadh | Níor goileadh | Ar goileadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | GoilimI weep | Ní ghoilimI do not weep | An ngoilim?Do I weep? |
| tú (you) | Goileann túYou weep | Ní ghoileann túYou do not weep | An ngoileann tú?Do you weep? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Goileann sé / síHe weeps | Ní ghoileann sé / síHe does not weep | An ngoileann sé / sí?Does he weep? |
| sinn (we) | GoilimidWe weep | Ní ghoilimidWe do not weep | An ngoilimid?Do we weep? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Goileann sibhYou weep | Ní ghoileann sibhYou do not weep | An ngoileann sibh?Do you weep? |
| siad (they) | Goileann siadThey weep | Ní ghoileann siadThey do not weep | An ngoileann siad?Do they weep? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Goiltear | Ní ghoiltear | An ngoiltear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Goilfidh méI will weep | Ní ghoilfidh méI will not weep | An ngoilfidh mé?Will I weep? |
| tú (you) | Goilfidh túYou will weep | Ní ghoilfidh túYou will not weep | An ngoilfidh tú?Will you weep? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Goilfidh sé / síHe will weep | Ní ghoilfidh sé / síHe will not weep | An ngoilfidh sé / sí?Will he weep? |
| sinn (we) | GoilfimidWe will weep | Ní ghoilfimidWe will not weep | An ngoilfimid?Will we weep? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Goilfidh sibhYou will weep | Ní ghoilfidh sibhYou will not weep | An ngoilfidh sibh?Will you weep? |
| siad (they) | Goilfidh siadThey will weep | Ní ghoilfidh siadThey will not weep | An ngoilfidh siad?Will they weep? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Goilfear | Ní ghoilfear | An ngoilfear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | GhoilfinnI would weep | Ní ghoilfinnI would not weep | An ngoilfinn?Would I weep? |
| tú (you) | GhoilfeáYou would weep | Ní ghoilfeáYou would not weep | An ngoilfeá?Would you weep? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ghoilfeadh sé / síHe would weep | Ní ghoilfeadh sé / síHe would not weep | An ngoilfeadh sé / sí?Would he weep? |
| sinn (we) | GhoilfimisWe would weep | Ní ghoilfimisWe would not weep | An ngoilfimis?Would we weep? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ghoilfeadh sibhYou would weep | Ní ghoilfeadh sibhYou would not weep | An ngoilfeadh sibh?Would you weep? |
| siad (they) | GhoilfidísThey would weep | Ní ghoilfidísThey would not weep | An ngoilfidís?Would they weep? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Ghoilfí | Ní ghoilfí | An ngoilfí? |
“Goil” 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 weep in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to weep?
The Irish for to weep is goil (pronounced “gil”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is gol.
What is the verbal noun of goil?
The verbal noun of goil is gol, used after ag for the continuous: ag gol (weeping). The verbal adjective is goilte.
How do you say goil in the past and the future?
Past: Ghoil mé; negative Níor ghoil mé; question Ar ghoil mé?. Future: Goilfidh mé; negative Ní ghoilfidh mé; question An ngoilfidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of goil?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Ghoilfinn (I would weep); negative Ní ghoilfinn; question An ngoilfinn?.
Does goil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Goil can mean to weep or to grieve, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'goil' and 'caoin'?
'Caoin' is the most common everyday word for crying, while 'goil' is more literary and suggests weeping. Both are understood, but learners usually hear 'ag caoineadh' more than 'ag gol'.
How do you say 'something upset her' with 'goil'?
That sense belongs to the separate verb 'goill ar': 'Ghoill a imeacht uirthi' means 'His departure upset her'.
