HeyRuaHow to say “to count” in Irish
- Irish:
- cuntais
- English:
- to count, reckon
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- cuntas (ag cuntas, counting)
- Verbal adjective:
- cuntaiste
- Pronunciation:
- “KUN-tish” /ˈkʊn̪ˠt̪ˠəʃ/
What does “cuntais” mean?
“Cuntais” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to count
- To find the total number of things by going through them one by one.Also: reckon, tally, number.
“Cuntais” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Chuntais méI counted | Níor chuntais méI did not count | Ar chuntais mé?Did I count? |
| tú (you) | Chuntais túYou counted | Níor chuntais túYou did not count | Ar chuntais tú?Did you count? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chuntais sé / síHe counted | Níor chuntais sé / síHe did not count | Ar chuntais sé / sí?Did he count? |
| sinn (we) | ChuntaiseamarWe counted | Níor chuntaiseamarWe did not count | Ar chuntaiseamar?Did we count? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chuntais sibhYou counted | Níor chuntais sibhYou did not count | Ar chuntais sibh?Did you count? |
| siad (they) | Chuntais siadThey counted | Níor chuntais siadThey did not count | Ar chuntais siad?Did they count? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cuntaiseadh | Níor cuntaiseadh | Ar cuntaiseadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CuntaisimI count | Ní chuntaisimI do not count | An gcuntaisim?Do I count? |
| tú (you) | Cuntaiseann túYou count | Ní chuntaiseann túYou do not count | An gcuntaiseann tú?Do you count? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cuntaiseann sé / síHe counts | Ní chuntaiseann sé / síHe does not count | An gcuntaiseann sé / sí?Does he count? |
| sinn (we) | CuntaisimidWe count | Ní chuntaisimidWe do not count | An gcuntaisimid?Do we count? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cuntaiseann sibhYou count | Ní chuntaiseann sibhYou do not count | An gcuntaiseann sibh?Do you count? |
| siad (they) | Cuntaiseann siadThey count | Ní chuntaiseann siadThey do not count | An gcuntaiseann siad?Do they count? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cuntaistear | Ní chuntaistear | An gcuntaistear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Cuntaisfidh méI will count | Ní chuntaisfidh méI will not count | An gcuntaisfidh mé?Will I count? |
| tú (you) | Cuntaisfidh túYou will count | Ní chuntaisfidh túYou will not count | An gcuntaisfidh tú?Will you count? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cuntaisfidh sé / síHe will count | Ní chuntaisfidh sé / síHe will not count | An gcuntaisfidh sé / sí?Will he count? |
| sinn (we) | CuntaisfimidWe will count | Ní chuntaisfimidWe will not count | An gcuntaisfimid?Will we count? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cuntaisfidh sibhYou will count | Ní chuntaisfidh sibhYou will not count | An gcuntaisfidh sibh?Will you count? |
| siad (they) | Cuntaisfidh siadThey will count | Ní chuntaisfidh siadThey will not count | An gcuntaisfidh siad?Will they count? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cuntaisfear | Ní chuntaisfear | An gcuntaisfear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChuntaisfinnI would count | Ní chuntaisfinnI would not count | An gcuntaisfinn?Would I count? |
| tú (you) | ChuntaisfeáYou would count | Ní chuntaisfeáYou would not count | An gcuntaisfeá?Would you count? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chuntaisfeadh sé / síHe would count | Ní chuntaisfeadh sé / síHe would not count | An gcuntaisfeadh sé / sí?Would he count? |
| sinn (we) | ChuntaisfimisWe would count | Ní chuntaisfimisWe would not count | An gcuntaisfimis?Would we count? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chuntaisfeadh sibhYou would count | Ní chuntaisfeadh sibhYou would not count | An gcuntaisfeadh sibh?Would you count? |
| siad (they) | ChuntaisfidísThey would count | Ní chuntaisfidísThey would not count | An gcuntaisfidís?Would they count? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Chuntaisfí | Ní chuntaisfí | An gcuntaisfí? |
“Cuntais” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Chuntais sí an t-airgead sa sparán.
She counted the money in the purse.
Cuntaisíonn an múinteoir na páistí gach maidin.
The teacher counts the children every morning.
Cuntaisfidh mé na caoirigh amárach.
I will count the sheep tomorrow.
Chuntaisfeadh sé na vótaí dá mbeadh am aige.
He would count the votes if he had time.
Níor chuntais siad na leabhair fós.
They haven't counted the books yet.
Ar chuntais tú na cathaoireacha?
Did you count the chairs?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To count in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to count?
The Irish for to count is cuntais (pronounced “KUN-tish”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is cuntas.
What is the verbal noun of cuntais?
The verbal noun of cuntais is cuntas, used after ag for the continuous: ag cuntas (counting). The verbal adjective is cuntaiste.
How do you say cuntais in the past and the future?
Past: Chuntais mé; negative Níor chuntais mé; question Ar chuntais mé?. Future: Cuntaisfidh mé; negative Ní chuntaisfidh mé; question An gcuntaisfidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of cuntais?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Chuntaisfinn (I would count); negative Ní chuntaisfinn; question An gcuntaisfinn?.
Does cuntais have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cuntais can mean to count or to reckon, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'cuntais' and 'comhair'?
Both mean to count; 'comhair' is the more common everyday verb, while 'cuntais' is often linked to reckoning and accounts, as in the noun 'cuntas'.
