HeyRuaHow to say “to bend” in Irish
- Irish:
- cúb
- English:
- to bend, cower, coop
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- cúbadh (ag cúbadh, bending)
- Verbal adjective:
- cúbtha
- Pronunciation:
- “koob” /kuːbˠ/
What does “cúb” mean?
“Cúb” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to bend
- To bend or fold something, or to crouch or bend oneself.Also: fold, crouch, stoop.
2 other meanings: cower or coop
“Cúb” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Chúb méI bent | Níor chúb méI did not bend | Ar chúb mé?Did I bend? |
| tú (you) | Chúb túYou bent | Níor chúb túYou did not bend | Ar chúb tú?Did you bend? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chúb sé / síHe bent | Níor chúb sé / síHe did not bend | Ar chúb sé / sí?Did he bend? |
| sinn (we) | ChúbamarWe bent | Níor chúbamarWe did not bend | Ar chúbamar?Did we bend? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chúb sibhYou bent | Níor chúb sibhYou did not bend | Ar chúb sibh?Did you bend? |
| siad (they) | Chúb siadThey bent | Níor chúb siadThey did not bend | Ar chúb siad?Did they bend? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cúbadh | Níor cúbadh | Ar cúbadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CúbaimI bend | Ní chúbaimI do not bend | An gcúbaim?Do I bend? |
| tú (you) | Cúbann túYou bend | Ní chúbann túYou do not bend | An gcúbann tú?Do you bend? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cúbann sé / síHe bends | Ní chúbann sé / síHe does not bend | An gcúbann sé / sí?Does he bend? |
| sinn (we) | CúbaimidWe bend | Ní chúbaimidWe do not bend | An gcúbaimid?Do we bend? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cúbann sibhYou bend | Ní chúbann sibhYou do not bend | An gcúbann sibh?Do you bend? |
| siad (they) | Cúbann siadThey bend | Ní chúbann siadThey do not bend | An gcúbann siad?Do they bend? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cúbtar | Ní chúbtar | An gcúbtar? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Cúbfaidh méI will bend | Ní chúbfaidh méI will not bend | An gcúbfaidh mé?Will I bend? |
| tú (you) | Cúbfaidh túYou will bend | Ní chúbfaidh túYou will not bend | An gcúbfaidh tú?Will you bend? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cúbfaidh sé / síHe will bend | Ní chúbfaidh sé / síHe will not bend | An gcúbfaidh sé / sí?Will he bend? |
| sinn (we) | CúbfaimidWe will bend | Ní chúbfaimidWe will not bend | An gcúbfaimid?Will we bend? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cúbfaidh sibhYou will bend | Ní chúbfaidh sibhYou will not bend | An gcúbfaidh sibh?Will you bend? |
| siad (they) | Cúbfaidh siadThey will bend | Ní chúbfaidh siadThey will not bend | An gcúbfaidh siad?Will they bend? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cúbfar | Ní chúbfar | An gcúbfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChúbfainnI would bend | Ní chúbfainnI would not bend | An gcúbfainn?Would I bend? |
| tú (you) | ChúbfáYou would bend | Ní chúbfáYou would not bend | An gcúbfá?Would you bend? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chúbfadh sé / síHe would bend | Ní chúbfadh sé / síHe would not bend | An gcúbfadh sé / sí?Would he bend? |
| sinn (we) | ChúbfaimisWe would bend | Ní chúbfaimisWe would not bend | An gcúbfaimis?Would we bend? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chúbfadh sibhYou would bend | Ní chúbfadh sibhYou would not bend | An gcúbfadh sibh?Would you bend? |
| siad (they) | ChúbfaidísThey would bend | Ní chúbfaidísThey would not bend | An gcúbfaidís?Would they bend? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Chúbfaí | Ní chúbfaí | An gcúbfaí? |
“Cúb” 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 bend in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to bend?
The Irish for to bend is cúb (pronounced “koob”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is cúbadh.
What is the verbal noun of cúb?
The verbal noun of cúb is cúbadh, used after ag for the continuous: ag cúbadh (bending). The verbal adjective is cúbtha.
How do you say cúb in the past and the future?
Past: Chúb mé; negative Níor chúb mé; question Ar chúb mé?. Future: Cúbfaidh mé; negative Ní chúbfaidh mé; question An gcúbfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of cúb?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Chúbfainn (I would bend); negative Ní chúbfainn; question An gcúbfainn?.
Does cúb have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cúb can mean to bend, to cower or to coop, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'cúb' and 'lúb'?
'Lúb' is the usual word for bending or looping something, while 'cúb' often suggests bending in on oneself, cowering or shrinking, as in 'chúb sé ón bhuille'.
