HeyRuaHow to say “to cover” in Irish
- Irish:
- cumhdaigh
- English:
- to cover, protect, upholster
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- cumhdach (ag cumhdach, covering)
- Verbal adjective:
- cumhdaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “KOO-dee” /ˈkuːd̪ˠi/
What does “cumhdaigh” mean?
“Cumhdaigh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to cover
- To put a covering over something to protect or hide it.Also: cover up, encase, wrap.
2 other meanings: protect or upholster
- 2to protect
- To keep something safe or preserve it, including protecting it in law.Also: preserve, safeguard, enshrine.
- 3to upholster
- To fit furniture with padding and a fabric cover.Also: cover.
Other Irish verbs for to cover: clúdaigh (cover)
“Cumhdaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Chumhdaigh méI covered | Níor chumhdaigh méI did not cover | Ar chumhdaigh mé?Did I cover? |
| tú (you) | Chumhdaigh túYou covered | Níor chumhdaigh túYou did not cover | Ar chumhdaigh tú?Did you cover? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chumhdaigh sé / síHe covered | Níor chumhdaigh sé / síHe did not cover | Ar chumhdaigh sé / sí?Did he cover? |
| sinn (we) | ChumhdaíomarWe covered | Níor chumhdaíomarWe did not cover | Ar chumhdaíomar?Did we cover? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chumhdaigh sibhYou covered | Níor chumhdaigh sibhYou did not cover | Ar chumhdaigh sibh?Did you cover? |
| siad (they) | Chumhdaigh siadThey covered | Níor chumhdaigh siadThey did not cover | Ar chumhdaigh siad?Did they cover? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cumhdaíodh | Níor cumhdaíodh | Ar cumhdaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CumhdaímI cover | Ní chumhdaímI do not cover | An gcumhdaím?Do I cover? |
| tú (you) | Cumhdaíonn túYou cover | Ní chumhdaíonn túYou do not cover | An gcumhdaíonn tú?Do you cover? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cumhdaíonn sé / síHe covers | Ní chumhdaíonn sé / síHe does not cover | An gcumhdaíonn sé / sí?Does he cover? |
| sinn (we) | CumhdaímidWe cover | Ní chumhdaímidWe do not cover | An gcumhdaímid?Do we cover? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cumhdaíonn sibhYou cover | Ní chumhdaíonn sibhYou do not cover | An gcumhdaíonn sibh?Do you cover? |
| siad (they) | Cumhdaíonn siadThey cover | Ní chumhdaíonn siadThey do not cover | An gcumhdaíonn siad?Do they cover? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cumhdaítear | Ní chumhdaítear | An gcumhdaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Cumhdóidh méI will cover | Ní chumhdóidh méI will not cover | An gcumhdóidh mé?Will I cover? |
| tú (you) | Cumhdóidh túYou will cover | Ní chumhdóidh túYou will not cover | An gcumhdóidh tú?Will you cover? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cumhdóidh sé / síHe will cover | Ní chumhdóidh sé / síHe will not cover | An gcumhdóidh sé / sí?Will he cover? |
| sinn (we) | CumhdóimidWe will cover | Ní chumhdóimidWe will not cover | An gcumhdóimid?Will we cover? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cumhdóidh sibhYou will cover | Ní chumhdóidh sibhYou will not cover | An gcumhdóidh sibh?Will you cover? |
| siad (they) | Cumhdóidh siadThey will cover | Ní chumhdóidh siadThey will not cover | An gcumhdóidh siad?Will they cover? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cumhdófar | Ní chumhdófar | An gcumhdófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChumhdóinnI would cover | Ní chumhdóinnI would not cover | An gcumhdóinn?Would I cover? |
| tú (you) | ChumhdófáYou would cover | Ní chumhdófáYou would not cover | An gcumhdófá?Would you cover? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chumhdódh sé / síHe would cover | Ní chumhdódh sé / síHe would not cover | An gcumhdódh sé / sí?Would he cover? |
| sinn (we) | ChumhdóimisWe would cover | Ní chumhdóimisWe would not cover | An gcumhdóimis?Would we cover? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chumhdódh sibhYou would cover | Ní chumhdódh sibhYou would not cover | An gcumhdódh sibh?Would you cover? |
| siad (they) | ChumhdóidísThey would cover | Ní chumhdóidísThey would not cover | An gcumhdóidís?Would they cover? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Chumhdófaí | Ní chumhdófaí | An gcumhdófaí? |
“Cumhdaigh” 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 cover in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to cover?
The Irish for to cover is cumhdaigh (pronounced “KOO-dee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is cumhdach.
What is the verbal noun of cumhdaigh?
The verbal noun of cumhdaigh is cumhdach, used after ag for the continuous: ag cumhdach (covering). The verbal adjective is cumhdaithe.
How do you say cumhdaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Chumhdaigh mé; negative Níor chumhdaigh mé; question Ar chumhdaigh mé?. Future: Cumhdóidh mé; negative Ní chumhdóidh mé; question An gcumhdóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of cumhdaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Chumhdóinn (I would cover); negative Ní chumhdóinn; question An gcumhdóinn?.
Does cumhdaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cumhdaigh can mean to cover, to protect or to upholster, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'cumhdaigh' and 'clúdaigh'?
Both mean 'cover', but 'clúdaigh' is the more everyday word, while 'cumhdaigh' is more formal and often carries the sense of protecting or preserving, as in 'cearta atá cumhdaithe sa bhunreacht' (rights enshrined in the constitution).
