HeyRuaHow to say “measurement” in Irish
- Irish:
- tomhas
- English:
- measurement, riddle, guess, gauge
- Word type:
- noun (verbal noun)
- Verbal noun of:
- tomhais, to measure (ag tomhas, measuring)
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “toh-us” /t̪ˠoːsˠ/
- Plural:
- tomhais (measurements)
- Genitive singular:
- tomhais, an tomhais (e.g. ribín tomhais, tape measure)
- Genitive plural:
- tomhas, na dtomhas (e.g. cruinneas na dtomhas, the accuracy of the measurements)
What does “tomhas” mean?
“Tomhas” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- measurement
- The act of measuring something, or the size or amount found; it is the verbal noun of the verb tomhais.Also: measure, measuring, size, dimension.
3 other meanings: riddle or guess or gauge
- 2riddle
- A puzzling question or problem that you must solve by thinking cleverly.Also: puzzle, conundrum.
- 3guess
- An attempt to give an answer or estimate without knowing for certain.Also: estimate, guessing.
- 4gauge
- A standard measure of thickness or size, for example of wire or sheet metal.Also: standard measure.
Other Irish words for measurement: miosúr (measure)
“Tomhas” as a verbal noun
After ag, tomhas means measuring: it is the verbal noun of the verb tomhais (to measure). A noun that follows it goes into the genitive.
“Tomhas” with the article
The plural of measurement in Irish is tomhais. Here is tomhas after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Tomhas” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using tomhas, the Irish word for measurement.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Measurement in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for measurement?
The Irish for measurement is tomhas (pronounced “toh-us”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is tomhais. Depending on context it can also mean riddle or guess or gauge.
How do you pronounce tomhas in Irish?
Tomhas is said like “toh-us” (IPA /t̪ˠoːsˠ/).
What is the plural of measurement in Irish?
The plural of tomhas is tomhais; with the article, na tomhais means “the measurements”. The genitive plural is tomhas, as in cruinneas na dtomhas (the accuracy of the measurements).
Does tomhas have more than one meaning?
Yes. Tomhas can mean measurement, riddle, guess or gauge, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does tomhas change to thomhas or dtomhas?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) tomhas becomes mo thomhas (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár dtomhas (eclipsis).
How do I say 'ask a riddle' in Irish?
You say 'tomhas a chur ar dhuine', for example 'Chuir sé tomhas orm' (he asked me a riddle).
What is the difference between 'tomhas' and 'tomhais'?
'Tomhais' is the verb (measure, guess) and also the genitive and plural of the noun, while 'tomhas' is the noun and verbal noun: 'ag tomhas' means measuring.
