HeyRuaWhat does “um” mean?
- 1at (a time)
- Used before certain times and festivals to say when something happens, as in 'um Nollaig' (at Christmas).Also: at, at Christmas, at Easter, in the afternoon.
- 2around, about (the body)
- Used with clothes to say you put something on or wear it around you, as in 'Cuir umat do chóta' (Put on your coat).Also: around, about, put on, wearing.
- 3about, concerning
- In some fixed expressions it means about or because of, as in 'uime sin' (therefore).Also: about, concerning, therefore.
Pronounced “um (u as in 'put')” /ʊmˠ/.
“Um” with pronouns
In Irish you never say “um mé”. The preposition and the pronoun fuse into one word. Learn these 7 forms and you can use um with anyone. Click a form for its own page.
| Pronoun | Irish | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (me) | umam | around me | Chuir mé mo chóta umam.I put my coat on. |
| tú (you) | umat | around you | Cuir do chóta umat, tá sé fuar.Put your coat on, it's cold. |
| sé (him / it) | uime | around him / it | Chuir sé a gheansaí uime go tapa.He put his jumper on quickly. |
| sí (her / it) | uimpi | around her / it | Chuir sí a cóta uimpi agus d'imigh sí.She put her coat on and left. |
| sinn (us) | umainn | around us | Chuireamar ár gcótaí umainn ar maidin.We put our coats on in the morning. |
| sibh (you (plural)) | umaibh | around you (plural) | Cuirigí bhur gcótaí umaibh anois.Put your coats on now. |
| siad (them) | umpu | around them | Chuir siad a gcótaí umpu ar an bpointe.They put their coats on right away. |
“Um” before a noun
Um lenites the next word (séimhiú): the first letter takes an h, um Nollaig.
Mostly in set phrases: um Nollaig (at Christmas), um thráthnóna (in the afternoon).
Everyday phrases with “um”
The other prepositions
Every simple preposition has its own set of pronoun forms.
“Um” in Irish: frequently asked questions
What does um mean in Irish?
um means around, about, at (a time). With a pronoun it becomes one word: umam (around, about, at (a time) me), umat (around, about, at (a time) you), uime (around, about, at (a time) him / it).
What is the Irish for around me?
umam. The preposition um and the pronoun mé fuse into one word; this is a prepositional pronoun (forainm réamhfhoclach).
Does um change the next word?
Um lenites the next word (séimhiú): the first letter takes an h, um Nollaig. Mostly in set phrases: um Nollaig (at Christmas), um thráthnóna (in the afternoon).
How do I say 'at Christmas' in Irish?
Say 'um Nollaig', for example 'Bím sa bhaile um Nollaig' (I am at home at Christmas). You will also hear 'faoi Nollaig' in everyday speech.
How do I say 'put on your coat' with this preposition?
Say 'Cuir umat do chóta'. The more common everyday way is 'Cuir ort do chóta', but both are correct.
