HeyRuaHow to say “to take” in Irish
- Irish:
- gabh
- English:
- to take, arrest, go, sing
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- gabháil (ag gabháil, taking)
- Verbal adjective:
- gafa
- Pronunciation:
- “gow” /ɡaw/
What does “gabh” mean?
“Gabh” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to take
- To take, seize or capture something or someone.Also: seize, capture, catch.
3 other meanings: arrest or go or sing
- 2to arrest
- To take a person into custody, as the police do.Also: detain, apprehend.
- 3to go
- To go or come somewhere, especially in commands like 'gabh i leith'.Also: come, proceed.
- 4to sing
- To sing or perform a song or piece of music.Also: perform, play.
Other Irish verbs for to take: bain (take), glac (take), tóg (take)
“Gabh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Ghabh méI took | Níor ghabh méI did not take | Ar ghabh mé?Did I take? |
| tú (you) | Ghabh túYou took | Níor ghabh túYou did not take | Ar ghabh tú?Did you take? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ghabh sé / síHe took | Níor ghabh sé / síHe did not take | Ar ghabh sé / sí?Did he take? |
| sinn (we) | GhabhamarWe took | Níor ghabhamarWe did not take | Ar ghabhamar?Did we take? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ghabh sibhYou took | Níor ghabh sibhYou did not take | Ar ghabh sibh?Did you take? |
| siad (they) | Ghabh siadThey took | Níor ghabh siadThey did not take | Ar ghabh siad?Did they take? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Gabhadh | Níor gabhadh | Ar gabhadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | GabhaimI take | Ní ghabhaimI do not take | An ngabhaim?Do I take? |
| tú (you) | Gabhann túYou take | Ní ghabhann túYou do not take | An ngabhann tú?Do you take? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Gabhann sé / síHe takes | Ní ghabhann sé / síHe does not take | An ngabhann sé / sí?Does he take? |
| sinn (we) | GabhaimidWe take | Ní ghabhaimidWe do not take | An ngabhaimid?Do we take? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Gabhann sibhYou take | Ní ghabhann sibhYou do not take | An ngabhann sibh?Do you take? |
| siad (they) | Gabhann siadThey take | Ní ghabhann siadThey do not take | An ngabhann siad?Do they take? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Gabhtar | Ní ghabhtar | An ngabhtar? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Gabhfaidh méI will take | Ní ghabhfaidh méI will not take | An ngabhfaidh mé?Will I take? |
| tú (you) | Gabhfaidh túYou will take | Ní ghabhfaidh túYou will not take | An ngabhfaidh tú?Will you take? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Gabhfaidh sé / síHe will take | Ní ghabhfaidh sé / síHe will not take | An ngabhfaidh sé / sí?Will he take? |
| sinn (we) | GabhfaimidWe will take | Ní ghabhfaimidWe will not take | An ngabhfaimid?Will we take? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Gabhfaidh sibhYou will take | Ní ghabhfaidh sibhYou will not take | An ngabhfaidh sibh?Will you take? |
| siad (they) | Gabhfaidh siadThey will take | Ní ghabhfaidh siadThey will not take | An ngabhfaidh siad?Will they take? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Gabhfar | Ní ghabhfar | An ngabhfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | GhabhfainnI would take | Ní ghabhfainnI would not take | An ngabhfainn?Would I take? |
| tú (you) | GhabhfáYou would take | Ní ghabhfáYou would not take | An ngabhfá?Would you take? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ghabhfadh sé / síHe would take | Ní ghabhfadh sé / síHe would not take | An ngabhfadh sé / sí?Would he take? |
| sinn (we) | GhabhfaimisWe would take | Ní ghabhfaimisWe would not take | An ngabhfaimis?Would we take? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ghabhfadh sibhYou would take | Ní ghabhfadh sibhYou would not take | An ngabhfadh sibh?Would you take? |
| siad (they) | GhabhfaidísThey would take | Ní ghabhfaidísThey would not take | An ngabhfaidís?Would they take? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Ghabhfaí | Ní ghabhfaí | An ngabhfaí? |
“Gabh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Phrases with gabh: Gabh mo leithscéal (excuse me), Gabh mo leithscéal (excuse me), Gabh mo leithscéal (excuse me), Gabh mo leithscéal (excuse me), Gabh mo leithscéal? (pardon)
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
Phrases with “gabh”
To take in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to take?
The Irish for to take is gabh (pronounced “gow”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is gabháil.
What is the verbal noun of gabh?
The verbal noun of gabh is gabháil, used after ag for the continuous: ag gabháil (taking). The verbal adjective is gafa.
How do you say gabh in the past and the future?
Past: Ghabh mé; negative Níor ghabh mé; question Ar ghabh mé?. Future: Gabhfaidh mé; negative Ní ghabhfaidh mé; question An ngabhfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of gabh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Ghabhfainn (I would take); negative Ní ghabhfainn; question An ngabhfainn?.
Does gabh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Gabh can mean to take, to arrest, to go or to sing, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'excuse me' with 'gabh'?
Say 'Gabh mo leithscéal', literally 'take my excuse'. The plural is 'Gabhaigí mo leithscéal'.
What is the difference between 'gabh' and 'tóg'?
'Tóg' is the everyday word for take or lift, while 'gabh' is used for capturing, arresting and in fixed phrases like 'gabh buíochas le'.
