HeyRuaHow to say “to compose” in Irish
- Irish:
- cum
- English:
- to compose, make up, form
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- cumadh (ag cumadh, composing)
- Verbal adjective:
- cumtha
- Pronunciation:
- “koom” /kʊmˠ/
What does “cum” mean?
“Cum” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to compose
- To create a song, poem, story or piece of music.Also: write, create, author.
2 other meanings: make up or form
- 2to make up
- To invent or think up something, such as a story, an excuse or a new word.Also: invent, coin, concoct, fabricate.
- 3to form
- To give shape to something or form it.Also: shape, fashion, devise.
“Cum” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Chum méI composed | Níor chum méI did not compose | Ar chum mé?Did I compose? |
| tú (you) | Chum túYou composed | Níor chum túYou did not compose | Ar chum tú?Did you compose? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chum sé / síHe composed | Níor chum sé / síHe did not compose | Ar chum sé / sí?Did he compose? |
| sinn (we) | ChumamarWe composed | Níor chumamarWe did not compose | Ar chumamar?Did we compose? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chum sibhYou composed | Níor chum sibhYou did not compose | Ar chum sibh?Did you compose? |
| siad (they) | Chum siadThey composed | Níor chum siadThey did not compose | Ar chum siad?Did they compose? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cumadh | Níor cumadh | Ar cumadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CumaimI compose | Ní chumaimI do not compose | An gcumaim?Do I compose? |
| tú (you) | Cumann túYou compose | Ní chumann túYou do not compose | An gcumann tú?Do you compose? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cumann sé / síHe composes | Ní chumann sé / síHe does not compose | An gcumann sé / sí?Does he compose? |
| sinn (we) | CumaimidWe compose | Ní chumaimidWe do not compose | An gcumaimid?Do we compose? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cumann sibhYou compose | Ní chumann sibhYou do not compose | An gcumann sibh?Do you compose? |
| siad (they) | Cumann siadThey compose | Ní chumann siadThey do not compose | An gcumann siad?Do they compose? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cumtar | Ní chumtar | An gcumtar? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Cumfaidh méI will compose | Ní chumfaidh méI will not compose | An gcumfaidh mé?Will I compose? |
| tú (you) | Cumfaidh túYou will compose | Ní chumfaidh túYou will not compose | An gcumfaidh tú?Will you compose? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cumfaidh sé / síHe will compose | Ní chumfaidh sé / síHe will not compose | An gcumfaidh sé / sí?Will he compose? |
| sinn (we) | CumfaimidWe will compose | Ní chumfaimidWe will not compose | An gcumfaimid?Will we compose? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cumfaidh sibhYou will compose | Ní chumfaidh sibhYou will not compose | An gcumfaidh sibh?Will you compose? |
| siad (they) | Cumfaidh siadThey will compose | Ní chumfaidh siadThey will not compose | An gcumfaidh siad?Will they compose? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cumfar | Ní chumfar | An gcumfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChumfainnI would compose | Ní chumfainnI would not compose | An gcumfainn?Would I compose? |
| tú (you) | ChumfáYou would compose | Ní chumfáYou would not compose | An gcumfá?Would you compose? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chumfadh sé / síHe would compose | Ní chumfadh sé / síHe would not compose | An gcumfadh sé / sí?Would he compose? |
| sinn (we) | ChumfaimisWe would compose | Ní chumfaimisWe would not compose | An gcumfaimis?Would we compose? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chumfadh sibhYou would compose | Ní chumfadh sibhYou would not compose | An gcumfadh sibh?Would you compose? |
| siad (they) | ChumfaidísThey would compose | Ní chumfaidísThey would not compose | An gcumfaidís?Would they compose? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Chumfaí | Ní chumfaí | An gcumfaí? |
“Cum” 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 compose in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to compose?
The Irish for to compose is cum (pronounced “koom”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is cumadh.
What is the verbal noun of cum?
The verbal noun of cum is cumadh, used after ag for the continuous: ag cumadh (composing). The verbal adjective is cumtha.
How do you say cum in the past and the future?
Past: Chum mé; negative Níor chum mé; question Ar chum mé?. Future: Cumfaidh mé; negative Ní chumfaidh mé; question An gcumfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of cum?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Chumfainn (I would compose); negative Ní chumfainn; question An gcumfainn?.
Does cum have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cum can mean to compose, to make up or to form, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'cum' and 'ceap'?
'Cum' is mainly used for composing or inventing something creative, like 'chum sí amhrán' (she composed a song), while 'ceap' means to think up, devise or appoint, as in 'cheap sé plean' (he devised a plan).
Can 'cum' mean to lie or make something up?
Yes, 'cum' can mean to fabricate, as in 'chum sé an scéal ar fad' (he made up the whole story).
