Faoi (under, about)
Guide to the Irish preposition 'faoi' (under, about): conjugated forms (fúm, fút, faoi, fúithi, fúinn, fúibh, fúthu), mutations, idioms (faoi deara), and usage.
The preposition faoi primarily means “under”, but it also has a very common secondary meaning of “about”. It triggers different initial mutations depending on whether it is followed by the definite article, and it combines with pronouns to form a distinct set of words known as conjugated prepositions.
Forms and Dialect Variants
The standard form of this preposition is faoi, which is also the most common form in Connacht. Other dialectal forms exist and are widely used.
Initial Mutations
faoi causes different mutations depending on whether it is followed by the definite article (an).
Without the Definite Article
When faoi is followed directly by a noun, it causes lenition.
Lenition
Rule Causes lenition on the following noun.
With the Definite Article
When faoi is combined with the singular definite article (an becomes faoin), it causes eclipsis.
Eclipsis
Rule Causes eclipsis on the following noun.
- faoin mbord - under the table
There are several dialectal exceptions to this rule.
Question Forms
To ask “under whom?” or “under what?”, you use the following structures, which require an indirect relative clause.
cé faoi...?- under whom…?cad faoi / cé faoi / cá faoi...?- under what…?
Combining with the Definite Article
faoi merges with the singular definite article an, but not with the plural na.
faoi+an=faoinfaoi+na=faoi na
Conjugated Forms (with Pronouns)
Like all Irish prepositions, faoi combines with personal pronouns to create a single word.
| Person | Standard Form | Emphatic Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. | fúm | fúmsa | under me |
| 2nd sg. | fút | fútsa | under you |
| 3rd sg. (m) | faoi | faoisean | under him |
| 3rd sg. (f) | fúithi | fúithise | under her |
| 1st pl. | fúinn | fúinne | under us |
| 2nd pl. | fúibh | fúibhse | under you |
| 3rd pl. | fúthu | fúthusan | under them |
faoi does not merge with possessive pronouns.
| Person | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. | faoi mo | under my |
| 2nd sg. | faoi do | under your |
| 3rd sg. (m) | faoina | under his |
| 3rd sg. (f) | faoina | under her |
| 1st pl. | faoinár | under our |
| 2nd pl. | faoi bhur | under your |
| 3rd pl. | faoina | under their |
Combining with the Relative Pronoun
faoi can combine with the relative pronoun a and the copula. This structure is less common in modern speech than placing the preposition at the end of the clause.
| Tense | Relative Pronoun (faoi + a/ar) | Copula Form (faoi + ar) | Copula Form (before Vowel) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present | faoina | faoinar | faoinarb | under which |
| Past | faoinar | faoinar | faoinarbh | under which |
- an chathaoir faoina bhfuil mo leabhar - the chair under which my book is
- an crann faoina raibh fás - the tree that grew (literally, “the tree under which there was growth”)
The older form fá has relative forms without the linking -n-.
- A Róisín, ná bíodh brón ort fár éirigh duit. - My Róisín, do not be sad about what happened to you.
Usage and Meaning
faoi has a wide range of uses beyond its core spatial meaning.
Spatial: Under
- faoin gcathaoir - under the chair
- faoi uisce - under water
- faoi thalamh - underground
- faoin oileán - on the leeward side of the island
- faoin dtuath - to/in the countryside
Support or Burden
It can describe something supporting a weight or someone bearing a burden.
- bheith faoin ualach - to bear a burden
- na colúin atá faoi - the pillars that support it
Contact: Against
- faoin mballa - against the wall
Driving Force or Urge
faoi is used idiomatically to express an internal drive, haste, or natural process like growth.
- Tá siúl fúm. - I am walking quickly.
- Tá fuadar fút. - You are in a hurry.
- Tá fás faoin gcrann. - The tree is growing.
Intention
The phrase Tá fúm... means “I intend to…”.
- Tá fút teacht. - You intend to come.
Topic: About
This is a very common use of faoi.
- caint faoi… - to speak about…
- imní faoi… - worry about…
- áthas faoi… - joy about…
- brón faoi… - sorrow for/about…
- magadh faoi… - mockery of…
- gáire faoi… - laughter about…
Time: Around or At
- faoi Nollaig - at Christmas
- faoi Bhealtaine - in May
- faoi seo - now
- faoin am seo - at this time
Numbers and Arithmetic
faoi is used to mean “times” when counting occurrences or in multiplication.
- faoi dhó - twice
- faoi sé - six times
- A trí faoina ceathair sin a dó dhéag. - Three times four is twelve.
State or Condition
It can describe being covered by, enveloped in, or in a particular state.
- faoi bhláth - in bloom (literally, “under bloom”)
- faoi sholas an lae - in daylight
- faoi bhrón - sad (literally, “under sorrow”)
- faoi shéan - happy (literally, “under a good omen”)