HeyRuaHow to say “to whisper” in Irish
- Irish:
- cogair
- English:
- to whisper, confer
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- cogar (ag cogar, whispering)
- Verbal adjective:
- cogartha
- Pronunciation:
- “KUG-ir” /ˈkɔɡəɾʲ/
What does “cogair” mean?
“Cogair” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to whisper
- To speak very softly so that only someone close can hear.Also: murmur, speak softly.
1 other meaning: confer
- 2to confer
- To talk privately with someone, sometimes to plot or conspire.Also: conspire, talk privately.
“Cogair” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Chogair méI whispered | Níor chogair méI did not whisper | Ar chogair mé?Did I whisper? |
| tú (you) | Chogair túYou whispered | Níor chogair túYou did not whisper | Ar chogair tú?Did you whisper? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chogair sé / síHe whispered | Níor chogair sé / síHe did not whisper | Ar chogair sé / sí?Did he whisper? |
| sinn (we) | ChograíomarWe whispered | Níor chograíomarWe did not whisper | Ar chograíomar?Did we whisper? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chogair sibhYou whispered | Níor chogair sibhYou did not whisper | Ar chogair sibh?Did you whisper? |
| siad (they) | Chogair siadThey whispered | Níor chogair siadThey did not whisper | Ar chogair siad?Did they whisper? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cograíodh | Níor cograíodh | Ar cograíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CograímI whisper | Ní chograímI do not whisper | An gcograím?Do I whisper? |
| tú (you) | Cograíonn túYou whisper | Ní chograíonn túYou do not whisper | An gcograíonn tú?Do you whisper? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cograíonn sé / síHe whispers | Ní chograíonn sé / síHe does not whisper | An gcograíonn sé / sí?Does he whisper? |
| sinn (we) | CograímidWe whisper | Ní chograímidWe do not whisper | An gcograímid?Do we whisper? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cograíonn sibhYou whisper | Ní chograíonn sibhYou do not whisper | An gcograíonn sibh?Do you whisper? |
| siad (they) | Cograíonn siadThey whisper | Ní chograíonn siadThey do not whisper | An gcograíonn siad?Do they whisper? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cograítear | Ní chograítear | An gcograítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Cogróidh méI will whisper | Ní chogróidh méI will not whisper | An gcogróidh mé?Will I whisper? |
| tú (you) | Cogróidh túYou will whisper | Ní chogróidh túYou will not whisper | An gcogróidh tú?Will you whisper? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cogróidh sé / síHe will whisper | Ní chogróidh sé / síHe will not whisper | An gcogróidh sé / sí?Will he whisper? |
| sinn (we) | CogróimidWe will whisper | Ní chogróimidWe will not whisper | An gcogróimid?Will we whisper? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cogróidh sibhYou will whisper | Ní chogróidh sibhYou will not whisper | An gcogróidh sibh?Will you whisper? |
| siad (they) | Cogróidh siadThey will whisper | Ní chogróidh siadThey will not whisper | An gcogróidh siad?Will they whisper? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cogrófar | Ní chogrófar | An gcogrófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChogróinnI would whisper | Ní chogróinnI would not whisper | An gcogróinn?Would I whisper? |
| tú (you) | ChogrófáYou would whisper | Ní chogrófáYou would not whisper | An gcogrófá?Would you whisper? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chogródh sé / síHe would whisper | Ní chogródh sé / síHe would not whisper | An gcogródh sé / sí?Would he whisper? |
| sinn (we) | ChogróimisWe would whisper | Ní chogróimisWe would not whisper | An gcogróimis?Would we whisper? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chogródh sibhYou would whisper | Ní chogródh sibhYou would not whisper | An gcogródh sibh?Would you whisper? |
| siad (they) | ChogróidísThey would whisper | Ní chogróidísThey would not whisper | An gcogróidís?Would they whisper? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Chogrófaí | Ní chogrófaí | An gcogrófaí? |
“Cogair” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Chogair sí rud éigin i mo chluas.
She whispered something in my ear.
Cograíonn na páistí le chéile sa leaba.
The children whisper together in bed.
Cogróidh mé an freagra leat.
I will whisper the answer to you.
Chogródh sé an rún liom dá mbeadh muinín aige asam.
He would whisper the secret to me if he trusted me.
Níor chogair sé focal le duine ar bith.
He didn't whisper a word to anyone.
Ar chogair tú leis an múinteoir?
Did you whisper to the teacher?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To whisper in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to whisper?
The Irish for to whisper is cogair (pronounced “KUG-ir”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is cogar.
What is the verbal noun of cogair?
The verbal noun of cogair is cogar, used after ag for the continuous: ag cogar (whispering). The verbal adjective is cogartha.
How do you say cogair in the past and the future?
Past: Chogair mé; negative Níor chogair mé; question Ar chogair mé?. Future: Cogróidh mé; negative Ní chogróidh mé; question An gcogróidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of cogair?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Chogróinn (I would whisper); negative Ní chogróinn; question An gcogróinn?.
Does cogair have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cogair can mean to whisper or to confer, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Which preposition is used with 'cogair' for whispering to someone?
Use 'le' or 'i gcluas': 'chogair sé liom' or 'chogair sé i mo chluas' means he whispered to me.
What does 'cogar' mean on its own in conversation?
The verbal noun 'cogar' means a whisper, and 'Cogar!' is a common way to say 'Listen!' or 'Tell me' before a question.
