HeyRuaHow to say “to wink” in Irish
- Irish:
- caoch
- English:
- to wink, blind, block, wither
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- caochadh (ag caochadh, winking)
- Verbal adjective:
- caochta
- Pronunciation:
- “keekh” /kiːx/
What does “caoch” mean?
“Caoch” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to wink
- To close and open one eye quickly, often as a signal to someone; used with 'ar'.Also: wink at, blink, flicker.
3 other meanings: blind or block or wither
- 2to blind
- To make someone unable to see, or to dazzle them with light.Also: dazzle, daze.
- 3to block
- To close up or become blocked, as a pipe, drain or passage.Also: choke, clog, close up.
- 4to wither
- To become empty or shrivel, as a nut, grain or plant that fails to fill out.Also: become empty, shrivel.
Other Irish verbs for to wink: sméid (wink)
“Caoch” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Chaoch méI winked | Níor chaoch méI did not wink | Ar chaoch mé?Did I wink? |
| tú (you) | Chaoch túYou winked | Níor chaoch túYou did not wink | Ar chaoch tú?Did you wink? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chaoch sé / síHe winked | Níor chaoch sé / síHe did not wink | Ar chaoch sé / sí?Did he wink? |
| sinn (we) | ChaochamarWe winked | Níor chaochamarWe did not wink | Ar chaochamar?Did we wink? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chaoch sibhYou winked | Níor chaoch sibhYou did not wink | Ar chaoch sibh?Did you wink? |
| siad (they) | Chaoch siadThey winked | Níor chaoch siadThey did not wink | Ar chaoch siad?Did they wink? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Caochadh | Níor caochadh | Ar caochadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CaochaimI wink | Ní chaochaimI do not wink | An gcaochaim?Do I wink? |
| tú (you) | Caochann túYou wink | Ní chaochann túYou do not wink | An gcaochann tú?Do you wink? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Caochann sé / síHe winks | Ní chaochann sé / síHe does not wink | An gcaochann sé / sí?Does he wink? |
| sinn (we) | CaochaimidWe wink | Ní chaochaimidWe do not wink | An gcaochaimid?Do we wink? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Caochann sibhYou wink | Ní chaochann sibhYou do not wink | An gcaochann sibh?Do you wink? |
| siad (they) | Caochann siadThey wink | Ní chaochann siadThey do not wink | An gcaochann siad?Do they wink? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Caochtar | Ní chaochtar | An gcaochtar? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Caochfaidh méI will wink | Ní chaochfaidh méI will not wink | An gcaochfaidh mé?Will I wink? |
| tú (you) | Caochfaidh túYou will wink | Ní chaochfaidh túYou will not wink | An gcaochfaidh tú?Will you wink? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Caochfaidh sé / síHe will wink | Ní chaochfaidh sé / síHe will not wink | An gcaochfaidh sé / sí?Will he wink? |
| sinn (we) | CaochfaimidWe will wink | Ní chaochfaimidWe will not wink | An gcaochfaimid?Will we wink? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Caochfaidh sibhYou will wink | Ní chaochfaidh sibhYou will not wink | An gcaochfaidh sibh?Will you wink? |
| siad (they) | Caochfaidh siadThey will wink | Ní chaochfaidh siadThey will not wink | An gcaochfaidh siad?Will they wink? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Caochfar | Ní chaochfar | An gcaochfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChaochfainnI would wink | Ní chaochfainnI would not wink | An gcaochfainn?Would I wink? |
| tú (you) | ChaochfáYou would wink | Ní chaochfáYou would not wink | An gcaochfá?Would you wink? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chaochfadh sé / síHe would wink | Ní chaochfadh sé / síHe would not wink | An gcaochfadh sé / sí?Would he wink? |
| sinn (we) | ChaochfaimisWe would wink | Ní chaochfaimisWe would not wink | An gcaochfaimis?Would we wink? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chaochfadh sibhYou would wink | Ní chaochfadh sibhYou would not wink | An gcaochfadh sibh?Would you wink? |
| siad (they) | ChaochfaidísThey would wink | Ní chaochfaidísThey would not wink | An gcaochfaidís?Would they wink? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Chaochfaí | Ní chaochfaí | An gcaochfaí? |
“Caoch” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Chaoch sé orm nuair a bhí an múinteoir ag caint.
He winked at me when the teacher was talking.
Caochann sí ar a cara i gcónaí.
She always winks at her friend.
Caochfaidh na soilse sin thú.
Those lights will blind you.
Chaochfadh an ghrian thú ar an trá.
The sun would dazzle you on the beach.
Níor chaoch sé súil ar feadh na hoíche.
He didn't close an eye all night.
Ar chaoch tú ar an gcailín sin?
Did you wink at that girl?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To wink in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to wink?
The Irish for to wink is caoch (pronounced “keekh”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is caochadh.
What is the verbal noun of caoch?
The verbal noun of caoch is caochadh, used after ag for the continuous: ag caochadh (winking). The verbal adjective is caochta.
How do you say caoch in the past and the future?
Past: Chaoch mé; negative Níor chaoch mé; question Ar chaoch mé?. Future: Caochfaidh mé; negative Ní chaochfaidh mé; question An gcaochfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of caoch?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Chaochfainn (I would wink); negative Ní chaochfainn; question An gcaochfainn?.
Does caoch have more than one meaning?
Yes. Caoch can mean to wink, to blind, to block or to wither, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Which preposition is used with 'caoch' meaning to wink at someone?
Use 'ar': 'Chaoch sí orm' means 'She winked at me'.
How is 'caoch' different from 'sméid'?
'Caoch' is to wink with one eye, while 'sméid' is broader, meaning to wink, nod or beckon as a signal.
