HeyRuaHow to say “starting” in Irish
- Irish:
- tosú
- English:
- starting
- Word type:
- noun (verbal noun)
- Verbal noun of:
- tosaigh, to begin (ag tosú, beginning)
- Gender:
- masculine
- Pronunciation:
- “tuh-SOO” /t̪ˠəˈsˠuː/
- Genitive singular:
- tosaithe, an tosaithe (e.g. am tosaithe an chluiche, the starting time of the game)
What does “tosú” mean?
- starting
- The act of beginning something; it is the verbal noun of the verb tosaigh (begin, start).Also: beginning, start, commencement, commencing.
“Tosú” as a verbal noun
After ag, tosú means beginning: it is the verbal noun of the verb tosaigh (to begin). A noun that follows it goes into the genitive.
“Tosú” with the article
Here is tosú after the article (an t-alt).
“Tosú” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using tosú, the Irish word for starting.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Starting in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for starting?
The Irish for starting is tosú (pronounced “tuh-SOO”). It’s a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce tosú in Irish?
Tosú is said like “tuh-SOO” (IPA /t̪ˠəˈsˠuː/).
Does tosú have a plural?
No plural form is given for tosú in the standard. Many abstract and mass nouns in Irish have no plural.
Why does tosú change to thosú or dtosú?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) tosú becomes mo thosú (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár dtosú (eclipsis).
What is the difference between tosú and tús?
Tosú is the verbal noun, the act of starting (ag tosú, starting), while tús is the beginning itself (tús an scéil, the beginning of the story).
Which preposition follows tosú?
Use ar for starting a task: tosú ar an obair, to start the work. Use ag with a verbal noun: thosaigh sé ag caoineadh, he started crying.
