If you’re learning Irish and dreading the 11 infamous Irish irregular verbs, you’re not alone. These verbs break the rules, don’t follow tidy patterns, and seem to show up everywhere in conversation. And if you’ve ever opened a grammar book and stared at a sea of verb charts, you know how overwhelming it can be.
But here’s the good news: you don’t have to memorize charts to get the hang of irregular verbs in Irish. In fact, there’s a smarter way to learn them—through patterns, context, and repetition. In this post, we’ll show you exactly how to do that.
Whether you’re just starting your Irish journey or you’ve been learning for a while and keep mixing up chonaic and d’fhaca, this is your no-stress guide to mastering Irish irregular verbs.
What Are Irish Irregular Verbs?
In Irish, most verbs follow regular patterns in different tenses. But 11 verbs don’t behave—they’re irregular, meaning they don’t follow standard conjugation rules. These verbs are:
bí, déan, faigh, feic, abair, beir, clois, ith, tabhair, tar, téigh
You’ll notice that these are some of the most commonly used verbs in everyday Irish. So yes, they’re essential—but also totally learnable without brute force.
Why You Don’t Need to Memorize Charts
Traditional Irish classes often drill these verbs using large tables showing every tense and form. And while that works for some learners, it’s often too abstract and overwhelming.
Here’s what works better:
- Focus on real sentences, not isolated forms
- Learn in pairs or opposites (e.g., “I said” / “I didn’t say”)
- Listen and repeat — your brain remembers patterns more easily than lists
- Use AI tools and daily mini-conversations to reinforce what you already know
With the right approach, you’ll start using these verbs automatically—just like native speakers do.
The 3-Step Method to Mastering Irregular Verbs
✅ Step 1: Start With the Verbs You Use Every Day
Instead of trying to learn all 11 at once, start with 3–4 verbs you’ll actually use:
- Bí (to be) – essential for describing yourself, feelings, and location
- Téigh (to go) – for saying where you went
- Déan (to do/make) – incredibly versatile
- Feic (to see) – great for conversations
Here’s how they look in the past tense—the tense most learners start using first:
- Bhí mé sa bhaile. – I was at home.
- Chuaigh sé go Gaillimh. – He went to Galway.
- Rinne sí an obair. – She did the work.
- Chonaic mé é. – I saw him.
You’ve just used 4 irregular verbs, no charts needed.
✅ Step 2: Learn in Context, Not in Columns
Here’s the trick: instead of memorizing “abair = say”, learn sentences like:
- Dúirt sí liom é. – She told me.
- Ní dúirt mé tada. – I didn’t say anything.
- An ndúirt tú é? – Did you say it?
You just learned 3 forms: affirmative, negative, and question — the most common use cases.
Practicing verbs in mini dialogues helps you retain the grammar and the meaning.
✅ Step 3: Use AI and Repetition for Natural Fluency
Want to make this stick without drilling tables? Use an AI-powered tool like Gaeilgeoir AI to practice:
- Custom sentence builders
- Instant feedback
- Voice repetition tools
- Spaced repetition learning
This way, you get real-time exposure to verbs in action, not in isolation.
You can also pair this with passive learning by listening to top Irish language podcasts. Hearing Rinne mé or Chuaigh siad in natural speech builds recognition and confidence.
Quick Reference: Common Forms You’ll Actually Use
Don’t worry—we’re not giving you a chart. But here are a few high-frequency forms to look out for. (You’ll see these everywhere.)
Bí (to be)
- Bhí mé = I was
- Ní raibh sé = He wasn’t
- An raibh tú? = Were you?
Téigh (to go)
- Chuaigh sí = She went
- Ní dheachaigh siad = They didn’t go
- An ndeachaigh tú? = Did you go?
Feic (to see)
- Chonaic mé = I saw
- Ní fhaca sé = He didn’t see
- An bhfaca tú? = Did you see?
Déan (to do/make)
- Rinne mé = I did
- Ní dhearna sí = She didn’t do
- An ndearna tú? = Did you do?
Notice the patterns: many negative forms use Ní + lenition, and many questions start with An + eclipsis. You’re not just learning verbs—you’re learning the structure of Irish itself.
Final Tips: Make It Stick
- Practice out loud. Irish verbs sound different from how they’re spelled. Speaking helps solidify them.
- Use a “verb of the week.” Pick one irregular verb and use it in every sentence you can for a few days.
- Create personal sentences. Talk about your own life: Chonaic mé mo mhadra inniu. (I saw my dog today.)
- Review little, often. Five minutes a day with flashcards or Gaeilgeoir AI beats a 2-hour cram session.
And most importantly: don’t panic about getting them wrong. Even native speakers stumble over irregular forms from time to time.
Want to Practice These the Smart Way?
With Gaeilgeoir AI’s free 3-day trial, you can skip the rote memorization and start using Irish irregular verbs in real conversations. You’ll get:
- Personalized verb practice
- Grammar tips based on your level
- Instant corrections and pronunciation help
- Lessons that grow with you
👉 Start your free trial now and speak Irish more confidently in just a few days.
Keep Learning
Once you’ve got irregular verbs down, explore more of our learner-friendly grammar guides:
- Irish Sentence Structure: Word Order Made Easy
- How to Say Yes and No in Irish
- Mastering the Irish Future Tense
- Irish Language Lessons for Beginners
Final Thoughts
Yes, Irish irregular verbs can look intimidating—but they’re nothing you can’t handle with the right approach. Skip the charts. Focus on patterns. Practice with purpose.
Before long, you won’t be thinking “Is this an irregular verb?”—you’ll just be speaking Irish.
Ádh mór ort! (Good luck!)
