Learn how to conjugate regular Irish verbs of the first conjugation that end in the suffix -áil, often derived from English loanwords.
Verbs Conjugation First Conjugation Regular Verbs
Verbs ending in the suffix -áil form a large and productive group within the first conjugation. Although they have more than one syllable, they follow the standard patterns of the first conjugation with one important sound change.
Many of these verbs are derived from English loanwords, making this a common pattern for new words entering the language.
sábháil - to save
peinteáil - to paint
pairceáil - to park
iarnáil - to iron
Colloquially, this pattern can be applied to almost any English verb, such as hitchhikeáil (to hitchhike) or bicycleáil (to cycle).
The -áil to -ál- Sound Change
The key feature of these verbs is that the final slender consonant cluster -áil is “depalatalised” to a broad -ál- before most endings are added. This means the i is dropped from the stem.
Sábhálann sé an comhad. - He saves the file.
Sábháiltear an comhad. - The file is saved.
This pattern differs slightly from other polysyllabic verbs in the first conjugation, like taispeáin (to show). With taispeáin, the stem is depalatalised to taispeán- before endings with t as well, giving taispeántar.
Conjugation Forms
The following tables show the standard endings for verbs in -áil, using sábháil (to save) as a model.