HeyRuaHow to say “to earn” in Irish
- Irish:
- tabhaigh
- English:
- to earn, incur, deserve
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- tabhú (ag tabhú, earning)
- Verbal adjective:
- tabhaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “TOW-ee” /ˈt̪ˠauə/
What does “tabhaigh” mean?
“Tabhaigh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to earn
- To gain something such as respect, praise or a reward through your own effort or merit.Also: win, gain, merit.
2 other meanings: incur or deserve
- 2to incur
- To bring something such as a debt, cost or penalty upon yourself.Also: run up, bring upon oneself.
- 3to deserve
- To be worthy of something because of what you have done.Also: merit.
Other Irish verbs for to earn: saothraigh (earn), tuill (earn)
“Tabhaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Thabhaigh méI earned | Níor thabhaigh méI did not earn | Ar thabhaigh mé?Did I earn? |
| tú (you) | Thabhaigh túYou earned | Níor thabhaigh túYou did not earn | Ar thabhaigh tú?Did you earn? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Thabhaigh sé / síHe earned | Níor thabhaigh sé / síHe did not earn | Ar thabhaigh sé / sí?Did he earn? |
| sinn (we) | ThabhaíomarWe earned | Níor thabhaíomarWe did not earn | Ar thabhaíomar?Did we earn? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Thabhaigh sibhYou earned | Níor thabhaigh sibhYou did not earn | Ar thabhaigh sibh?Did you earn? |
| siad (they) | Thabhaigh siadThey earned | Níor thabhaigh siadThey did not earn | Ar thabhaigh siad?Did they earn? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Tabhaíodh | Níor tabhaíodh | Ar tabhaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | TabhaímI earn | Ní thabhaímI do not earn | An dtabhaím?Do I earn? |
| tú (you) | Tabhaíonn túYou earn | Ní thabhaíonn túYou do not earn | An dtabhaíonn tú?Do you earn? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Tabhaíonn sé / síHe earns | Ní thabhaíonn sé / síHe does not earn | An dtabhaíonn sé / sí?Does he earn? |
| sinn (we) | TabhaímidWe earn | Ní thabhaímidWe do not earn | An dtabhaímid?Do we earn? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Tabhaíonn sibhYou earn | Ní thabhaíonn sibhYou do not earn | An dtabhaíonn sibh?Do you earn? |
| siad (they) | Tabhaíonn siadThey earn | Ní thabhaíonn siadThey do not earn | An dtabhaíonn siad?Do they earn? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Tabhaítear | Ní thabhaítear | An dtabhaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Tabhóidh méI will earn | Ní thabhóidh méI will not earn | An dtabhóidh mé?Will I earn? |
| tú (you) | Tabhóidh túYou will earn | Ní thabhóidh túYou will not earn | An dtabhóidh tú?Will you earn? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Tabhóidh sé / síHe will earn | Ní thabhóidh sé / síHe will not earn | An dtabhóidh sé / sí?Will he earn? |
| sinn (we) | TabhóimidWe will earn | Ní thabhóimidWe will not earn | An dtabhóimid?Will we earn? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Tabhóidh sibhYou will earn | Ní thabhóidh sibhYou will not earn | An dtabhóidh sibh?Will you earn? |
| siad (they) | Tabhóidh siadThey will earn | Ní thabhóidh siadThey will not earn | An dtabhóidh siad?Will they earn? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Tabhófar | Ní thabhófar | An dtabhófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ThabhóinnI would earn | Ní thabhóinnI would not earn | An dtabhóinn?Would I earn? |
| tú (you) | ThabhófáYou would earn | Ní thabhófáYou would not earn | An dtabhófá?Would you earn? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Thabhódh sé / síHe would earn | Ní thabhódh sé / síHe would not earn | An dtabhódh sé / sí?Would he earn? |
| sinn (we) | ThabhóimisWe would earn | Ní thabhóimisWe would not earn | An dtabhóimis?Would we earn? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Thabhódh sibhYou would earn | Ní thabhódh sibhYou would not earn | An dtabhódh sibh?Would you earn? |
| siad (they) | ThabhóidísThey would earn | Ní thabhóidísThey would not earn | An dtabhóidís?Would they earn? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Thabhófaí | Ní thabhófaí | An dtabhófaí? |
“Tabhaigh” 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 earn in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to earn?
The Irish for to earn is tabhaigh (pronounced “TOW-ee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is tabhú.
What is the verbal noun of tabhaigh?
The verbal noun of tabhaigh is tabhú, used after ag for the continuous: ag tabhú (earning). The verbal adjective is tabhaithe.
How do you say tabhaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Thabhaigh mé; negative Níor thabhaigh mé; question Ar thabhaigh mé?. Future: Tabhóidh mé; negative Ní thabhóidh mé; question An dtabhóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of tabhaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Thabhóinn (I would earn); negative Ní thabhóinn; question An dtabhóinn?.
Does tabhaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Tabhaigh can mean to earn, to incur or to deserve, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'tabhaigh' and 'tuill'?
'Tuill' is the everyday word for earning or deserving, as in 'tuilleann sé airgead'. 'Tabhaigh' is more formal and is used especially for incurring debts or costs and earning interest, as in 'fiacha a thabhú'.
