HeyRuaHow to say “to dig” in Irish
- Irish:
- tochail
- English:
- to dig, dig up, probe
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- tochailt (ag tochailt, digging)
- Verbal adjective:
- tochailte
- Pronunciation:
- “TUKH-il” /t̪ˠɔxəlʲ/
What does “tochail” mean?
“Tochail” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to dig
- To break up and remove earth or other material, making a hole or trench.Also: excavate, dig out, burrow.
2 other meanings: dig up or probe
- 2to dig up
- To get something out of the ground by digging, such as potatoes or remains.Also: unearth, dig out.
- 3to probe
- To search deeply into something, figuratively digging into a matter.Also: delve, dig into, investigate.
Other Irish verbs for to dig: rómhair (dig)
“Tochail” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Thochail méI dug | Níor thochail méI did not dig | Ar thochail mé?Did I dig? |
| tú (you) | Thochail túYou dug | Níor thochail túYou did not dig | Ar thochail tú?Did you dig? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Thochail sé / síHe dug | Níor thochail sé / síHe did not dig | Ar thochail sé / sí?Did he dig? |
| sinn (we) | ThochlaíomarWe dug | Níor thochlaíomarWe did not dig | Ar thochlaíomar?Did we dig? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Thochail sibhYou dug | Níor thochail sibhYou did not dig | Ar thochail sibh?Did you dig? |
| siad (they) | Thochail siadThey dug | Níor thochail siadThey did not dig | Ar thochail siad?Did they dig? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Tochlaíodh | Níor tochlaíodh | Ar tochlaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | TochlaímI dig | Ní thochlaímI do not dig | An dtochlaím?Do I dig? |
| tú (you) | Tochlaíonn túYou dig | Ní thochlaíonn túYou do not dig | An dtochlaíonn tú?Do you dig? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Tochlaíonn sé / síHe digs | Ní thochlaíonn sé / síHe does not dig | An dtochlaíonn sé / sí?Does he dig? |
| sinn (we) | TochlaímidWe dig | Ní thochlaímidWe do not dig | An dtochlaímid?Do we dig? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Tochlaíonn sibhYou dig | Ní thochlaíonn sibhYou do not dig | An dtochlaíonn sibh?Do you dig? |
| siad (they) | Tochlaíonn siadThey dig | Ní thochlaíonn siadThey do not dig | An dtochlaíonn siad?Do they dig? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Tochlaítear | Ní thochlaítear | An dtochlaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Tochlóidh méI will dig | Ní thochlóidh méI will not dig | An dtochlóidh mé?Will I dig? |
| tú (you) | Tochlóidh túYou will dig | Ní thochlóidh túYou will not dig | An dtochlóidh tú?Will you dig? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Tochlóidh sé / síHe will dig | Ní thochlóidh sé / síHe will not dig | An dtochlóidh sé / sí?Will he dig? |
| sinn (we) | TochlóimidWe will dig | Ní thochlóimidWe will not dig | An dtochlóimid?Will we dig? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Tochlóidh sibhYou will dig | Ní thochlóidh sibhYou will not dig | An dtochlóidh sibh?Will you dig? |
| siad (they) | Tochlóidh siadThey will dig | Ní thochlóidh siadThey will not dig | An dtochlóidh siad?Will they dig? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Tochlófar | Ní thochlófar | An dtochlófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ThochlóinnI would dig | Ní thochlóinnI would not dig | An dtochlóinn?Would I dig? |
| tú (you) | ThochlófáYou would dig | Ní thochlófáYou would not dig | An dtochlófá?Would you dig? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Thochlódh sé / síHe would dig | Ní thochlódh sé / síHe would not dig | An dtochlódh sé / sí?Would he dig? |
| sinn (we) | ThochlóimisWe would dig | Ní thochlóimisWe would not dig | An dtochlóimis?Would we dig? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Thochlódh sibhYou would dig | Ní thochlódh sibhYou would not dig | An dtochlódh sibh?Would you dig? |
| siad (they) | ThochlóidísThey would dig | Ní thochlóidísThey would not dig | An dtochlóidís?Would they dig? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Thochlófaí | Ní thochlófaí | An dtochlófaí? |
“Tochail” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Thochail sé poll mór sa ghairdín inné.
He dug a big hole in the garden yesterday.
Tochlaíonn na madraí sa ghaineamh gach maidin.
The dogs dig in the sand every morning.
Tochlóidh na fir an díog amárach.
The men will dig the ditch tomorrow.
Thochlóinn na prátaí dá mbeadh spád agam.
I would dig the potatoes if I had a spade.
Níor thochail siad an talamh fós.
They haven't dug the ground yet.
Ar thochail tú an poll don chrann?
Did you dig the hole for the tree?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To dig in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to dig?
The Irish for to dig is tochail (pronounced “TUKH-il”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is tochailt.
What is the verbal noun of tochail?
The verbal noun of tochail is tochailt, used after ag for the continuous: ag tochailt (digging). The verbal adjective is tochailte.
How do you say tochail in the past and the future?
Past: Thochail mé; negative Níor thochail mé; question Ar thochail mé?. Future: Tochlóidh mé; negative Ní thochlóidh mé; question An dtochlóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of tochail?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Thochlóinn (I would dig); negative Ní thochlóinn; question An dtochlóinn?.
Does tochail have more than one meaning?
Yes. Tochail can mean to dig, to dig up or to probe, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'tochail' and 'rómhair'?
'Tochail' is general digging or excavating, such as a hole or trench, while 'rómhair' is digging or turning soil with a spade for cultivation.
