Fara (beside)
The Irish preposition 'fara' means 'together with' or 'beside'. Learn how it combines with pronouns and articles, and its various uses.
The preposition fara means “together with” or “beside”. While less common in modern standard Irish than alternatives like in éineacht le, it is still found in certain dialects and set phrases. It requires the dative case and does not cause any initial mutations on the following noun.
Case and Initial Mutations
fara takes the dative case. It does not cause lenition or eclipsis on the noun that follows it, whether the noun is preceded by the definite article or not.
- Without the article: no mutation
- With the article: no mutation
Forms with the Article
When fara is followed by the definite article an or na, it combines to form fairis or farais.
fara+anbecomesfairis an(orfarais an)fara+nabecomesfairis na(orfarais na)
Conjugated Forms (Prepositional Pronouns)
Like many Irish prepositions, fara combines with personal pronouns to create a single conjugated form.
| Person | Standard Form | Emphatic Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. (I) | faram | faramsa | beside me |
| 2nd sg. (you) | farat | faratsa | beside you |
| 3rd sg. (he/it) | fairis | fairis-san | beside him/it |
| 3rd sg. (she/it) | farae | faraese | beside her/it |
| 1st pl. (we) | farainn | farainne | beside us |
| 2nd pl. (you) | faraibh | faraibhse | beside you |
| 3rd pl. (they) | faru | farusan | beside them |
Usage and Examples
Together with
The primary meaning of fara is “together with” or “in the company of”.
- Bhí Mícheál faru. - Michael was with them.
- Buachaill amháin atá fanta faram anso sa bhaile. - One boy has remained with me here in the village.
- Ná suífeá farainn? - Won’t you sit with us?
- Tháinig siad chun Eoin agus dúirt siad leis: “A raibí, an té a bhí farat lastall den Iordáin… féach, tá seisean ag déanamh baiste…” - They came to John and said to him: “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan… look, he is baptising…” (John 3:26)
As well as / Besides
fara can also mean “as well as” or “in addition to”.
- fara cabhair Dé - so help me God (literally, “besides the help of God”)
- punt fara do cheart - a pound more than your due (literally, “a pound besides your right”)
Compared with / Instead of
In a comparative sense, fara can mean “compared with” or “instead of”.
- Is beag é fara a bhfuair tusa. - It is little compared with what you received.
- fara a bheith… - instead of being…
Origin of ‘freisin’ (also)
The common Irish adverb freisin, meaning “also” or “too”, derives from fara.