HeyRuaHow to say “to begin” in Irish
- Irish:
- tosaigh
- English:
- to begin, start
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- tosú (ag tosú, beginning)
- Verbal adjective:
- tosaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “TUS-ee” /ˈt̪ˠɔsˠə/
What does “tosaigh” mean?
“Tosaigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to begin
- To start doing something or to come into being.Also: start, commence.
1 other meaning: start
- 2to start
- To set something going, such as a process, a job or a machine.Also: initiate, launch, set going.
“Tosaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Thosaigh méI began | Níor thosaigh méI did not begin | Ar thosaigh mé?Did I begin? |
| tú (you) | Thosaigh túYou began | Níor thosaigh túYou did not begin | Ar thosaigh tú?Did you begin? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Thosaigh sé / síHe began | Níor thosaigh sé / síHe did not begin | Ar thosaigh sé / sí?Did he begin? |
| sinn (we) | ThosaíomarWe began | Níor thosaíomarWe did not begin | Ar thosaíomar?Did we begin? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Thosaigh sibhYou began | Níor thosaigh sibhYou did not begin | Ar thosaigh sibh?Did you begin? |
| siad (they) | Thosaigh siadThey began | Níor thosaigh siadThey did not begin | Ar thosaigh siad?Did they begin? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Tosaíodh | Níor tosaíodh | Ar tosaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | TosaímI begin | Ní thosaímI do not begin | An dtosaím?Do I begin? |
| tú (you) | Tosaíonn túYou begin | Ní thosaíonn túYou do not begin | An dtosaíonn tú?Do you begin? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Tosaíonn sé / síHe begins | Ní thosaíonn sé / síHe does not begin | An dtosaíonn sé / sí?Does he begin? |
| sinn (we) | TosaímidWe begin | Ní thosaímidWe do not begin | An dtosaímid?Do we begin? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Tosaíonn sibhYou begin | Ní thosaíonn sibhYou do not begin | An dtosaíonn sibh?Do you begin? |
| siad (they) | Tosaíonn siadThey begin | Ní thosaíonn siadThey do not begin | An dtosaíonn siad?Do they begin? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Tosaítear | Ní thosaítear | An dtosaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Tosóidh méI will begin | Ní thosóidh méI will not begin | An dtosóidh mé?Will I begin? |
| tú (you) | Tosóidh túYou will begin | Ní thosóidh túYou will not begin | An dtosóidh tú?Will you begin? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Tosóidh sé / síHe will begin | Ní thosóidh sé / síHe will not begin | An dtosóidh sé / sí?Will he begin? |
| sinn (we) | TosóimidWe will begin | Ní thosóimidWe will not begin | An dtosóimid?Will we begin? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Tosóidh sibhYou will begin | Ní thosóidh sibhYou will not begin | An dtosóidh sibh?Will you begin? |
| siad (they) | Tosóidh siadThey will begin | Ní thosóidh siadThey will not begin | An dtosóidh siad?Will they begin? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Tosófar | Ní thosófar | An dtosófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ThosóinnI would begin | Ní thosóinnI would not begin | An dtosóinn?Would I begin? |
| tú (you) | ThosófáYou would begin | Ní thosófáYou would not begin | An dtosófá?Would you begin? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Thosódh sé / síHe would begin | Ní thosódh sé / síHe would not begin | An dtosódh sé / sí?Would he begin? |
| sinn (we) | ThosóimisWe would begin | Ní thosóimisWe would not begin | An dtosóimis?Would we begin? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Thosódh sibhYou would begin | Ní thosódh sibhYou would not begin | An dtosódh sibh?Would you begin? |
| siad (they) | ThosóidísThey would begin | Ní thosóidísThey would not begin | An dtosóidís?Would they begin? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Thosófaí | Ní thosófaí | An dtosófaí? |
“Tosaigh” 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 begin in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to begin?
The Irish for to begin is tosaigh (pronounced “TUS-ee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is tosú.
What is the verbal noun of tosaigh?
The verbal noun of tosaigh is tosú, used after ag for the continuous: ag tosú (beginning). The verbal adjective is tosaithe.
How do you say tosaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Thosaigh mé; negative Níor thosaigh mé; question Ar thosaigh mé?. Future: Tosóidh mé; negative Ní thosóidh mé; question An dtosóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of tosaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Thosóinn (I would begin); negative Ní thosóinn; question An dtosóinn?.
Does tosaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Tosaigh can mean to begin or to start, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'start doing something' with tosaigh?
Use 'ag' with the verbal noun: 'Thosaigh sé ag caoineadh' means 'He started crying'. With a task as object, use 'ar': 'Thosaigh mé ar an obair'.
What is the difference between tosaigh and 'cuir tús le'?
Both mean 'start', but 'cuir tús le' is used for starting something: 'Chuir siad tús leis an gcruinniú'. 'Tosaigh' is more general and can be used alone: 'Thosaigh an cruinniú'.
