HeyRuaHow to say “to watch” in Irish
- Irish:
- feith
- English:
- to watch, wait
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- feitheamh (ag feitheamh, watching)
- Verbal adjective:
- feite
- Pronunciation:
- “feh” /fʲeh/
What does “feith” mean?
“Feith” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to watch
- To look at something closely or keep an eye on it.Also: observe, keep an eye on, look out for.
“Feith” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'fheith méI watched | Níor fheith méI did not watch | Ar fheith mé?Did I watch? |
| tú (you) | D'fheith túYou watched | Níor fheith túYou did not watch | Ar fheith tú?Did you watch? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'fheith sé / síHe watched | Níor fheith sé / síHe did not watch | Ar fheith sé / sí?Did he watch? |
| sinn (we) | D'fheitheamarWe watched | Níor fheitheamarWe did not watch | Ar fheitheamar?Did we watch? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'fheith sibhYou watched | Níor fheith sibhYou did not watch | Ar fheith sibh?Did you watch? |
| siad (they) | D'fheith siadThey watched | Níor fheith siadThey did not watch | Ar fheith siad?Did they watch? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Feitheadh | Níor feitheadh | Ar feitheadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | FeithimI watch | Ní fheithimI do not watch | An bhfeithim?Do I watch? |
| tú (you) | Feitheann túYou watch | Ní fheitheann túYou do not watch | An bhfeitheann tú?Do you watch? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Feitheann sé / síHe watches | Ní fheitheann sé / síHe does not watch | An bhfeitheann sé / sí?Does he watch? |
| sinn (we) | FeithimidWe watch | Ní fheithimidWe do not watch | An bhfeithimid?Do we watch? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Feitheann sibhYou watch | Ní fheitheann sibhYou do not watch | An bhfeitheann sibh?Do you watch? |
| siad (they) | Feitheann siadThey watch | Ní fheitheann siadThey do not watch | An bhfeitheann siad?Do they watch? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Feitear | Ní fheitear | An bhfeitear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Feithfidh méI will watch | Ní fheithfidh méI will not watch | An bhfeithfidh mé?Will I watch? |
| tú (you) | Feithfidh túYou will watch | Ní fheithfidh túYou will not watch | An bhfeithfidh tú?Will you watch? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Feithfidh sé / síHe will watch | Ní fheithfidh sé / síHe will not watch | An bhfeithfidh sé / sí?Will he watch? |
| sinn (we) | FeithfimidWe will watch | Ní fheithfimidWe will not watch | An bhfeithfimid?Will we watch? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Feithfidh sibhYou will watch | Ní fheithfidh sibhYou will not watch | An bhfeithfidh sibh?Will you watch? |
| siad (they) | Feithfidh siadThey will watch | Ní fheithfidh siadThey will not watch | An bhfeithfidh siad?Will they watch? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Feithfear | Ní fheithfear | An bhfeithfear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'fheithfinnI would watch | Ní fheithfinnI would not watch | An bhfeithfinn?Would I watch? |
| tú (you) | D'fheithfeáYou would watch | Ní fheithfeáYou would not watch | An bhfeithfeá?Would you watch? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'fheithfeadh sé / síHe would watch | Ní fheithfeadh sé / síHe would not watch | An bhfeithfeadh sé / sí?Would he watch? |
| sinn (we) | D'fheithfimisWe would watch | Ní fheithfimisWe would not watch | An bhfeithfimis?Would we watch? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'fheithfeadh sibhYou would watch | Ní fheithfeadh sibhYou would not watch | An bhfeithfeadh sibh?Would you watch? |
| siad (they) | D'fheithfidísThey would watch | Ní fheithfidísThey would not watch | An bhfeithfidís?Would they watch? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | D'fheithfí | Ní fheithfí | An bhfeithfí? |
“Feith” 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 watch in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to watch?
The Irish for to watch is feith (pronounced “feh”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is feitheamh.
What is the verbal noun of feith?
The verbal noun of feith is feitheamh, used after ag for the continuous: ag feitheamh (watching). The verbal adjective is feite.
How do you say feith in the past and the future?
Past: D'fheith mé; negative Níor fheith mé; question Ar fheith mé?. Future: Feithfidh mé; negative Ní fheithfidh mé; question An bhfeithfidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of feith?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is D'fheithfinn (I would watch); negative Ní fheithfinn; question An bhfeithfinn?.
Does feith have more than one meaning?
Yes. Feith can mean to watch or to wait, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Is 'feith' the usual word for 'wait'?
In everyday speech 'fan' is the usual verb for wait, but the verbal noun 'feitheamh' is common, as in 'seomra feithimh' (waiting room) and 'ag feitheamh le' (waiting for).
Which preposition does 'feith' take for 'wait for'?
It takes 'le': 'feith leis an mbus' means wait for the bus.
