HeyRuaHow to say “to scratch” in Irish
- Irish:
- tochais
- English:
- to scratch, rub
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- tochas (ag tochas, scratching)
- Verbal adjective:
- tochasta
- Pronunciation:
- “TOKH-ish” /ˈt̪ˠɔxəʃ/
What does “tochais” mean?
“Tochais” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to scratch
- To rub your skin with your nails to relieve an itch.Also: scratch an itch, scratch oneself.
1 other meaning: rub
- 2to rub
- Of an animal, to rub a part of its body against something to ease an itch.Also: rub against, scratch against.
“Tochais” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Thochais méI scratched | Níor thochais méI did not scratch | Ar thochais mé?Did I scratch? |
| tú (you) | Thochais túYou scratched | Níor thochais túYou did not scratch | Ar thochais tú?Did you scratch? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Thochais sé / síHe scratched | Níor thochais sé / síHe did not scratch | Ar thochais sé / sí?Did he scratch? |
| sinn (we) | ThochasamarWe scratched | Níor thochasamarWe did not scratch | Ar thochasamar?Did we scratch? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Thochais sibhYou scratched | Níor thochais sibhYou did not scratch | Ar thochais sibh?Did you scratch? |
| siad (they) | Thochais siadThey scratched | Níor thochais siadThey did not scratch | Ar thochais siad?Did they scratch? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Tochasadh | Níor tochasadh | Ar tochasadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | TochasaimI scratch | Ní thochasaimI do not scratch | An dtochasaim?Do I scratch? |
| tú (you) | Tochasann túYou scratch | Ní thochasann túYou do not scratch | An dtochasann tú?Do you scratch? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Tochasann sé / síHe scratches | Ní thochasann sé / síHe does not scratch | An dtochasann sé / sí?Does he scratch? |
| sinn (we) | TochasaimidWe scratch | Ní thochasaimidWe do not scratch | An dtochasaimid?Do we scratch? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Tochasann sibhYou scratch | Ní thochasann sibhYou do not scratch | An dtochasann sibh?Do you scratch? |
| siad (they) | Tochasann siadThey scratch | Ní thochasann siadThey do not scratch | An dtochasann siad?Do they scratch? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Tochastar | Ní thochastar | An dtochastar? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Tochasfaidh méI will scratch | Ní thochasfaidh méI will not scratch | An dtochasfaidh mé?Will I scratch? |
| tú (you) | Tochasfaidh túYou will scratch | Ní thochasfaidh túYou will not scratch | An dtochasfaidh tú?Will you scratch? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Tochasfaidh sé / síHe will scratch | Ní thochasfaidh sé / síHe will not scratch | An dtochasfaidh sé / sí?Will he scratch? |
| sinn (we) | TochasfaimidWe will scratch | Ní thochasfaimidWe will not scratch | An dtochasfaimid?Will we scratch? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Tochasfaidh sibhYou will scratch | Ní thochasfaidh sibhYou will not scratch | An dtochasfaidh sibh?Will you scratch? |
| siad (they) | Tochasfaidh siadThey will scratch | Ní thochasfaidh siadThey will not scratch | An dtochasfaidh siad?Will they scratch? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Tochasfar | Ní thochasfar | An dtochasfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ThochasfainnI would scratch | Ní thochasfainnI would not scratch | An dtochasfainn?Would I scratch? |
| tú (you) | ThochasfáYou would scratch | Ní thochasfáYou would not scratch | An dtochasfá?Would you scratch? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Thochasfadh sé / síHe would scratch | Ní thochasfadh sé / síHe would not scratch | An dtochasfadh sé / sí?Would he scratch? |
| sinn (we) | ThochasfaimisWe would scratch | Ní thochasfaimisWe would not scratch | An dtochasfaimis?Would we scratch? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Thochasfadh sibhYou would scratch | Ní thochasfadh sibhYou would not scratch | An dtochasfadh sibh?Would you scratch? |
| siad (they) | ThochasfaidísThey would scratch | Ní thochasfaidísThey would not scratch | An dtochasfaidís?Would they scratch? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Thochasfaí | Ní thochasfaí | An dtochasfaí? |
“Tochais” 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 scratch in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to scratch?
The Irish for to scratch is tochais (pronounced “TOKH-ish”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is tochas.
What is the verbal noun of tochais?
The verbal noun of tochais is tochas, used after ag for the continuous: ag tochas (scratching). The verbal adjective is tochasta.
How do you say tochais in the past and the future?
Past: Thochais mé; negative Níor thochais mé; question Ar thochais mé?. Future: Tochasfaidh mé; negative Ní thochasfaidh mé; question An dtochasfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of tochais?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Thochasfainn (I would scratch); negative Ní thochasfainn; question An dtochasfainn?.
Does tochais have more than one meaning?
Yes. Tochais can mean to scratch or to rub, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'tochais' and 'scríob'?
'Tochais' means to scratch an itch, as in 'Thochais sé a lámh', while 'scríob' means to scratch or scrape a surface, as in 'Scríob sé an carr'.
Is 'tochais' related to the word for an itch?
Yes, the verbal noun 'tochas' also means an itch: 'Tá tochas i mo chos' means 'My leg is itchy'. Don't confuse 'tochais' with 'tochrais', which means to wind thread.
