HeyRuaHow to say “to begin” in Irish
- Irish:
- túsaigh
- English:
- to begin, initialize
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- túsú (ag túsú, beginning)
- Verbal adjective:
- túsaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “TOO-see” /ˈt̪ˠuːsˠiː/
What does “túsaigh” mean?
“Túsaigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to begin
- To start or initiate something, especially formally.Also: start, initiate, commence.
1 other meaning: initialize
- 2to initialize
- To set a computer, program or device to its starting state.Also: initialise, boot, start up.
Other Irish verbs for to begin: tosaigh (begin)
“Túsaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Thúsaigh méI began | Níor thúsaigh méI did not begin | Ar thúsaigh mé?Did I begin? |
| tú (you) | Thúsaigh túYou began | Níor thúsaigh túYou did not begin | Ar thúsaigh tú?Did you begin? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Thúsaigh sé / síHe began | Níor thúsaigh sé / síHe did not begin | Ar thúsaigh sé / sí?Did he begin? |
| sinn (we) | ThúsaíomarWe began | Níor thúsaíomarWe did not begin | Ar thúsaíomar?Did we begin? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Thúsaigh sibhYou began | Níor thúsaigh sibhYou did not begin | Ar thúsaigh sibh?Did you begin? |
| siad (they) | Thúsaigh siadThey began | Níor thúsaigh siadThey did not begin | Ar thúsaigh siad?Did they begin? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Túsaíodh | Níor túsaíodh | Ar túsaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | TúsaímI begin | Ní thúsaímI do not begin | An dtúsaím?Do I begin? |
| tú (you) | Túsaíonn túYou begin | Ní thúsaíonn túYou do not begin | An dtúsaíonn tú?Do you begin? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Túsaíonn sé / síHe begins | Ní thúsaíonn sé / síHe does not begin | An dtúsaíonn sé / sí?Does he begin? |
| sinn (we) | TúsaímidWe begin | Ní thúsaímidWe do not begin | An dtúsaímid?Do we begin? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Túsaíonn sibhYou begin | Ní thúsaíonn sibhYou do not begin | An dtúsaíonn sibh?Do you begin? |
| siad (they) | Túsaíonn siadThey begin | Ní thúsaíonn siadThey do not begin | An dtúsaíonn siad?Do they begin? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Túsaítear | Ní thúsaítear | An dtúsaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Túsóidh méI will begin | Ní thúsóidh méI will not begin | An dtúsóidh mé?Will I begin? |
| tú (you) | Túsóidh túYou will begin | Ní thúsóidh túYou will not begin | An dtúsóidh tú?Will you begin? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Túsóidh sé / síHe will begin | Ní thúsóidh sé / síHe will not begin | An dtúsóidh sé / sí?Will he begin? |
| sinn (we) | TúsóimidWe will begin | Ní thúsóimidWe will not begin | An dtúsóimid?Will we begin? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Túsóidh sibhYou will begin | Ní thúsóidh sibhYou will not begin | An dtúsóidh sibh?Will you begin? |
| siad (they) | Túsóidh siadThey will begin | Ní thúsóidh siadThey will not begin | An dtúsóidh siad?Will they begin? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Túsófar | Ní thúsófar | An dtúsófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ThúsóinnI would begin | Ní thúsóinnI would not begin | An dtúsóinn?Would I begin? |
| tú (you) | ThúsófáYou would begin | Ní thúsófáYou would not begin | An dtúsófá?Would you begin? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Thúsódh sé / síHe would begin | Ní thúsódh sé / síHe would not begin | An dtúsódh sé / sí?Would he begin? |
| sinn (we) | ThúsóimisWe would begin | Ní thúsóimisWe would not begin | An dtúsóimis?Would we begin? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Thúsódh sibhYou would begin | Ní thúsódh sibhYou would not begin | An dtúsódh sibh?Would you begin? |
| siad (they) | ThúsóidísThey would begin | Ní thúsóidísThey would not begin | An dtúsóidís?Would they begin? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Thúsófaí | Ní thúsófaí | An dtúsófaí? |
“Túsaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To begin in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to begin?
The Irish for to begin is túsaigh (pronounced “TOO-see”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is túsú.
What is the verbal noun of túsaigh?
The verbal noun of túsaigh is túsú, used after ag for the continuous: ag túsú (beginning). The verbal adjective is túsaithe.
How do you say túsaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Thúsaigh mé; negative Níor thúsaigh mé; question Ar thúsaigh mé?. Future: Túsóidh mé; negative Ní thúsóidh mé; question An dtúsóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of túsaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Thúsóinn (I would begin); negative Ní thúsóinn; question An dtúsóinn?.
Does túsaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Túsaigh can mean to begin or to initialize, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'túsaigh' and 'tosaigh'?
'Tosaigh' is the everyday word for start or begin, while 'túsaigh' is more formal or technical, often used for initiating procedures or initializing computers.
