HeyRuaHow to say “to burst” in Irish
- Irish:
- maidhm
- English:
- to burst, explode, defeat
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- madhmadh (ag madhmadh, bursting)
- Verbal adjective:
- madhmtha
- Pronunciation:
- “mime” /mˠəimʲ/
What does “maidhm” mean?
“Maidhm” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to burst
- To break open suddenly or violently, as water, a bubble or a dam does.Also: break, erupt, break out.
2 other meanings: explode or defeat
- 2to explode
- To blow up or make something blow up, such as a bomb.Also: detonate, blow up.
- 3to defeat
- To beat or rout an enemy or opponent.Also: rout, beat.
“Maidhm” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Mhaidhm méI bursted | Níor mhaidhm méI did not burst | Ar mhaidhm mé?Did I burst? |
| tú (you) | Mhaidhm túYou bursted | Níor mhaidhm túYou did not burst | Ar mhaidhm tú?Did you burst? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mhaidhm sé / síHe bursted | Níor mhaidhm sé / síHe did not burst | Ar mhaidhm sé / sí?Did he burst? |
| sinn (we) | MhadhmamarWe bursted | Níor mhadhmamarWe did not burst | Ar mhadhmamar?Did we burst? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mhaidhm sibhYou bursted | Níor mhaidhm sibhYou did not burst | Ar mhaidhm sibh?Did you burst? |
| siad (they) | Mhaidhm siadThey bursted | Níor mhaidhm siadThey did not burst | Ar mhaidhm siad?Did they burst? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Madhmadh | Níor madhmadh | Ar madhmadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MadhmaimI burst | Ní mhadhmaimI do not burst | An madhmaim?Do I burst? |
| tú (you) | Madhmann túYou burst | Ní mhadhmann túYou do not burst | An madhmann tú?Do you burst? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Madhmann sé / síHe bursts | Ní mhadhmann sé / síHe does not burst | An madhmann sé / sí?Does he burst? |
| sinn (we) | MadhmaimidWe burst | Ní mhadhmaimidWe do not burst | An madhmaimid?Do we burst? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Madhmann sibhYou burst | Ní mhadhmann sibhYou do not burst | An madhmann sibh?Do you burst? |
| siad (they) | Madhmann siadThey burst | Ní mhadhmann siadThey do not burst | An madhmann siad?Do they burst? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Madhmtar | Ní mhadhmtar | An madhmtar? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Madhmfaidh méI will burst | Ní mhadhmfaidh méI will not burst | An madhmfaidh mé?Will I burst? |
| tú (you) | Madhmfaidh túYou will burst | Ní mhadhmfaidh túYou will not burst | An madhmfaidh tú?Will you burst? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Madhmfaidh sé / síHe will burst | Ní mhadhmfaidh sé / síHe will not burst | An madhmfaidh sé / sí?Will he burst? |
| sinn (we) | MadhmfaimidWe will burst | Ní mhadhmfaimidWe will not burst | An madhmfaimid?Will we burst? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Madhmfaidh sibhYou will burst | Ní mhadhmfaidh sibhYou will not burst | An madhmfaidh sibh?Will you burst? |
| siad (they) | Madhmfaidh siadThey will burst | Ní mhadhmfaidh siadThey will not burst | An madhmfaidh siad?Will they burst? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Madhmfar | Ní mhadhmfar | An madhmfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MhadhmfainnI would burst | Ní mhadhmfainnI would not burst | An madhmfainn?Would I burst? |
| tú (you) | MhadhmfáYou would burst | Ní mhadhmfáYou would not burst | An madhmfá?Would you burst? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mhadhmfadh sé / síHe would burst | Ní mhadhmfadh sé / síHe would not burst | An madhmfadh sé / sí?Would he burst? |
| sinn (we) | MhadhmfaimisWe would burst | Ní mhadhmfaimisWe would not burst | An madhmfaimis?Would we burst? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mhadhmfadh sibhYou would burst | Ní mhadhmfadh sibhYou would not burst | An madhmfadh sibh?Would you burst? |
| siad (they) | MhadhmfaidísThey would burst | Ní mhadhmfaidísThey would not burst | An madhmfaidís?Would they burst? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Mhadhmfaí | Ní mhadhmfaí | An madhmfaí? |
“Maidhm” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Mhaidhm an buama sa tsráid aréir.
The bomb exploded in the street last night.
Madhmann na tonnta ar na carraigeacha.
The waves burst on the rocks.
Madhmfaidh an balún má shéideann tú níos mó.
The balloon will burst if you blow more.
Mhadhmfadh an damba dá dtiocfadh tuilleadh báistí.
The dam would burst if more rain came.
Níor mhaidhm an buama ar chor ar bith.
The bomb didn't explode at all.
Ar mhaidhm an píopa uisce?
Did the water pipe burst?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To burst in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to burst?
The Irish for to burst is maidhm (pronounced “mime”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is madhmadh.
What is the verbal noun of maidhm?
The verbal noun of maidhm is madhmadh, used after ag for the continuous: ag madhmadh (bursting). The verbal adjective is madhmtha.
How do you say maidhm in the past and the future?
Past: Mhaidhm mé; negative Níor mhaidhm mé; question Ar mhaidhm mé?. Future: Madhmfaidh mé; negative Ní mhadhmfaidh mé; question An madhmfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of maidhm?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Mhadhmfainn (I would burst); negative Ní mhadhmfainn; question An madhmfainn?.
Does maidhm have more than one meaning?
Yes. Maidhm can mean to burst, to explode or to defeat, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'maidhm' and 'pléasc'?
Both can mean explode, but 'pléasc' is the everyday word for a bomb going off, while 'maidhm' often suggests bursting out, as with water or a dam. 'Maidhm' is also used in 'maidhm ar' meaning to rout an enemy.
