HeyRuaHow to say “to dance” in Irish
- Irish:
- damhsaigh
- English:
- to dance, jump about
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- damhsa (ag damhsa, dancing)
- Verbal adjective:
- damhsaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “DOW-see” /ˈd̪ˠausˠə/
What does “damhsaigh” mean?
“Damhsaigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to dance
- To move your body in rhythm to music.Also: step dance, take to the floor.
1 other meaning: jump about
- 2to jump about
- To skip, bob or leap about lightly, like someone dancing.Also: skip, bob, gambol, prance.
Other Irish verbs for to dance: rinc (dance)
“Damhsaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Dhamhsaigh méI danced | Níor dhamhsaigh méI did not dance | Ar dhamhsaigh mé?Did I dance? |
| tú (you) | Dhamhsaigh túYou danced | Níor dhamhsaigh túYou did not dance | Ar dhamhsaigh tú?Did you dance? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Dhamhsaigh sé / síHe danced | Níor dhamhsaigh sé / síHe did not dance | Ar dhamhsaigh sé / sí?Did he dance? |
| sinn (we) | DhamhsaíomarWe danced | Níor dhamhsaíomarWe did not dance | Ar dhamhsaíomar?Did we dance? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Dhamhsaigh sibhYou danced | Níor dhamhsaigh sibhYou did not dance | Ar dhamhsaigh sibh?Did you dance? |
| siad (they) | Dhamhsaigh siadThey danced | Níor dhamhsaigh siadThey did not dance | Ar dhamhsaigh siad?Did they dance? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Damhsaíodh | Níor damhsaíodh | Ar damhsaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | DamhsaímI dance | Ní dhamhsaímI do not dance | An ndamhsaím?Do I dance? |
| tú (you) | Damhsaíonn túYou dance | Ní dhamhsaíonn túYou do not dance | An ndamhsaíonn tú?Do you dance? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Damhsaíonn sé / síHe dances | Ní dhamhsaíonn sé / síHe does not dance | An ndamhsaíonn sé / sí?Does he dance? |
| sinn (we) | DamhsaímidWe dance | Ní dhamhsaímidWe do not dance | An ndamhsaímid?Do we dance? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Damhsaíonn sibhYou dance | Ní dhamhsaíonn sibhYou do not dance | An ndamhsaíonn sibh?Do you dance? |
| siad (they) | Damhsaíonn siadThey dance | Ní dhamhsaíonn siadThey do not dance | An ndamhsaíonn siad?Do they dance? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Damhsaítear | Ní dhamhsaítear | An ndamhsaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Damhsóidh méI will dance | Ní dhamhsóidh méI will not dance | An ndamhsóidh mé?Will I dance? |
| tú (you) | Damhsóidh túYou will dance | Ní dhamhsóidh túYou will not dance | An ndamhsóidh tú?Will you dance? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Damhsóidh sé / síHe will dance | Ní dhamhsóidh sé / síHe will not dance | An ndamhsóidh sé / sí?Will he dance? |
| sinn (we) | DamhsóimidWe will dance | Ní dhamhsóimidWe will not dance | An ndamhsóimid?Will we dance? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Damhsóidh sibhYou will dance | Ní dhamhsóidh sibhYou will not dance | An ndamhsóidh sibh?Will you dance? |
| siad (they) | Damhsóidh siadThey will dance | Ní dhamhsóidh siadThey will not dance | An ndamhsóidh siad?Will they dance? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Damhsófar | Ní dhamhsófar | An ndamhsófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | DhamhsóinnI would dance | Ní dhamhsóinnI would not dance | An ndamhsóinn?Would I dance? |
| tú (you) | DhamhsófáYou would dance | Ní dhamhsófáYou would not dance | An ndamhsófá?Would you dance? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Dhamhsódh sé / síHe would dance | Ní dhamhsódh sé / síHe would not dance | An ndamhsódh sé / sí?Would he dance? |
| sinn (we) | DhamhsóimisWe would dance | Ní dhamhsóimisWe would not dance | An ndamhsóimis?Would we dance? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Dhamhsódh sibhYou would dance | Ní dhamhsódh sibhYou would not dance | An ndamhsódh sibh?Would you dance? |
| siad (they) | DhamhsóidísThey would dance | Ní dhamhsóidísThey would not dance | An ndamhsóidís?Would they dance? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Dhamhsófaí | Ní dhamhsófaí | An ndamhsófaí? |
“Damhsaigh” 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 dance in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to dance?
The Irish for to dance is damhsaigh (pronounced “DOW-see”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is damhsa.
What is the verbal noun of damhsaigh?
The verbal noun of damhsaigh is damhsa, used after ag for the continuous: ag damhsa (dancing). The verbal adjective is damhsaithe.
How do you say damhsaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Dhamhsaigh mé; negative Níor dhamhsaigh mé; question Ar dhamhsaigh mé?. Future: Damhsóidh mé; negative Ní dhamhsóidh mé; question An ndamhsóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of damhsaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Dhamhsóinn (I would dance); negative Ní dhamhsóinn; question An ndamhsóinn?.
Does damhsaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Damhsaigh can mean to dance or to jump about, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'damhsaigh' and 'rinc'?
Both mean to dance; 'damhsaigh' (verbal noun 'damhsa') is more common in everyday speech, while 'rinc' (verbal noun 'rince') is also widely used, especially in 'rince Gaelach'.
How do I say 'I am dancing'?
Use the verbal noun: 'Tá mé ag damhsa.'
