fios
/fis̪/
In Gaelic, the English phrase 'know' is expressed by the word fios.
While often translated as the verb 'to know', fios is primarily a noun meaning 'knowledge' or 'information'. It is used in idiomatic constructions to express being acquainted or familiar with something.
Meaning: be acquainted or familiar with (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
To say someone knows something, you do not use fios as a verb. Instead, you use a construction that literally translates to 'there is knowledge at [person]'. For example, the phrase Tha fios agam literally means 'There is knowledge at me', which is used to say 'I know'. To express that someone else knows, you use the construction Tha fios aig [person].
How do you pronounce it?
/fis̪/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly try to conjugate fios as a verb. Instead, treat it as a noun and use it alongside the verb 'to be' (tha) and a prepositional construction.
Did you know?
- The structure of Tha fios agam mirrors how Gaelic expresses hunger or thirst, treating a mental state like a physical sensation one possesses.
- The word fios shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'wit', coming from the same Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to see'.
- If you want to say you 'know' someone personally, you would not use fios in the same way you use it for facts. Using fios for people can imply you have information about them rather than a personal relationship.
Examples in context
- Chan eil fios agam.I don't know.This sentence is useful for saying 'I don't know' using fios.
- Tha fios agam nach eil fhios agam.I know that I do not know.This sentence is useful for expressing the concept 'I know that I do not know' using fios.Tatoeba #844423 by marloncori, translation #750825 by sctld
- A bheil fios aig duine dè thachair?Does anyone know what happened?This sentence is useful for asking if someone knows something using fios.Tatoeba #5881886 by Catriona, translation #5881887 by Catriona
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Finlay and Mairead are discussing a local bakery.
- FinlayA bheil fios agad air an t-seòmarkeda?Do you know about the market?
- MaireadTha, tha fios agam air an àite.Yes, I am familiar with the place.
- FinlayAn eil fios agad cò an leasdaire?Do you know who the reader is?
- MaireadChan eil fios agam air an duine sin.I am not acquainted with that person.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry fios, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fios, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0, Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
