cad
/kad̪ˠ/
The Irish word for the interrogative pronoun "what" is cad. Wiktionary also lists céard.
Meaning: what? (interrogative pronoun) (pron)
Ways to say it
| Irish | IPA |
|---|---|
| cad | /kad̪ˠ/ /kəd̪ˠ/ |
| céard | /ceːɾˠd̪ˠ/ |
How does it change in a sentence?
When using cad as an interrogative pronoun immediately before a verb, it is often followed by the particle a, as seen in the phrase Cad a bhfuil?
How do you pronounce it?
/kad̪ˠ/
Did you know?
- While cad is common in the south and west, céard is more frequently heard in the north of Ireland.
- The word céard is actually a fusion of two separate words: cé, meaning 'what' and rud, meaning 'thing'.
- The phrase Cad a bhfuil? is often used as a general greeting similar to 'What's up?' rather than a literal question about an object.
Examples in context
- Ó, cad é seo?Oh, what is this?This example shows how to use cad to ask about a specific object.Tatoeba #626917 by niq, translation #33021 by orcrist
- Cad a bhuaigh mé?What did I win?This sentence demonstrates using cad to ask about an action or result.Tatoeba #4521068 by Gaeltacht, translation #3326718 by CK
- Cad is ainm duit?What is your name?This is a common way to use cad when asking for someone's name.Tatoeba #5155036 by kemushi69, translation #70623 by frpzzd
- 34 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Cathal and Siobhán are talking about a package.
- CathalCad atá sa phacáiste?What is in the package?
- SiobhánNíl mé cinnte, a Chathail.I am not sure, Cathal.
- CathalCad a rinne tú leis?What did you do with it?
- SiobhánCuir mé é ar an méiz.I put it on the table.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “what” translations and entries cad, céard, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cad, céard, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
