HeyRuaHow to say “to empower” in Irish
- Irish:
- cumhachtaigh
- English:
- to empower, energize
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- cumhachtú (ag cumhachtú, empowering)
- Verbal adjective:
- cumhachtaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “KOO-ukh-tee” /ˈkuːəxt̪ˠiː/
What does “cumhachtaigh” mean?
“Cumhachtaigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to empower
- To give someone power or authority to do something.Also: authorize, give power to.
1 other meaning: energize
- 2to energize
- To supply power or energy to a machine or device so that it works.Also: power, drive.
“Cumhachtaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Chumhachtaigh méI empowered | Níor chumhachtaigh méI did not empower | Ar chumhachtaigh mé?Did I empower? |
| tú (you) | Chumhachtaigh túYou empowered | Níor chumhachtaigh túYou did not empower | Ar chumhachtaigh tú?Did you empower? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chumhachtaigh sé / síHe empowered | Níor chumhachtaigh sé / síHe did not empower | Ar chumhachtaigh sé / sí?Did he empower? |
| sinn (we) | ChumhachtaíomarWe empowered | Níor chumhachtaíomarWe did not empower | Ar chumhachtaíomar?Did we empower? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chumhachtaigh sibhYou empowered | Níor chumhachtaigh sibhYou did not empower | Ar chumhachtaigh sibh?Did you empower? |
| siad (they) | Chumhachtaigh siadThey empowered | Níor chumhachtaigh siadThey did not empower | Ar chumhachtaigh siad?Did they empower? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cumhachtaíodh | Níor cumhachtaíodh | Ar cumhachtaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CumhachtaímI empower | Ní chumhachtaímI do not empower | An gcumhachtaím?Do I empower? |
| tú (you) | Cumhachtaíonn túYou empower | Ní chumhachtaíonn túYou do not empower | An gcumhachtaíonn tú?Do you empower? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cumhachtaíonn sé / síHe empowers | Ní chumhachtaíonn sé / síHe does not empower | An gcumhachtaíonn sé / sí?Does he empower? |
| sinn (we) | CumhachtaímidWe empower | Ní chumhachtaímidWe do not empower | An gcumhachtaímid?Do we empower? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cumhachtaíonn sibhYou empower | Ní chumhachtaíonn sibhYou do not empower | An gcumhachtaíonn sibh?Do you empower? |
| siad (they) | Cumhachtaíonn siadThey empower | Ní chumhachtaíonn siadThey do not empower | An gcumhachtaíonn siad?Do they empower? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cumhachtaítear | Ní chumhachtaítear | An gcumhachtaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Cumhachtóidh méI will empower | Ní chumhachtóidh méI will not empower | An gcumhachtóidh mé?Will I empower? |
| tú (you) | Cumhachtóidh túYou will empower | Ní chumhachtóidh túYou will not empower | An gcumhachtóidh tú?Will you empower? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cumhachtóidh sé / síHe will empower | Ní chumhachtóidh sé / síHe will not empower | An gcumhachtóidh sé / sí?Will he empower? |
| sinn (we) | CumhachtóimidWe will empower | Ní chumhachtóimidWe will not empower | An gcumhachtóimid?Will we empower? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cumhachtóidh sibhYou will empower | Ní chumhachtóidh sibhYou will not empower | An gcumhachtóidh sibh?Will you empower? |
| siad (they) | Cumhachtóidh siadThey will empower | Ní chumhachtóidh siadThey will not empower | An gcumhachtóidh siad?Will they empower? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cumhachtófar | Ní chumhachtófar | An gcumhachtófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChumhachtóinnI would empower | Ní chumhachtóinnI would not empower | An gcumhachtóinn?Would I empower? |
| tú (you) | ChumhachtófáYou would empower | Ní chumhachtófáYou would not empower | An gcumhachtófá?Would you empower? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chumhachtódh sé / síHe would empower | Ní chumhachtódh sé / síHe would not empower | An gcumhachtódh sé / sí?Would he empower? |
| sinn (we) | ChumhachtóimisWe would empower | Ní chumhachtóimisWe would not empower | An gcumhachtóimis?Would we empower? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chumhachtódh sibhYou would empower | Ní chumhachtódh sibhYou would not empower | An gcumhachtódh sibh?Would you empower? |
| siad (they) | ChumhachtóidísThey would empower | Ní chumhachtóidísThey would not empower | An gcumhachtóidís?Would they empower? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Chumhachtófaí | Ní chumhachtófaí | An gcumhachtófaí? |
“Cumhachtaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Chumhachtaigh an tAcht an chomhairle chun rialacha a dhéanamh.
The Act empowered the council to make rules.
Cumhachtaíonn an t-inneall an mhonarcha go léir.
The engine powers the whole plant.
Cumhachtóidh an clár seo pobail áitiúla.
This programme will empower local communities.
Chumhachtódh oideachas maith na daoine óga.
A good education would empower the young people.
Níor chumhachtaigh an dlí an t-aire chuige sin.
The law did not empower the minister to do that.
Ar chumhachtaigh siad an fhoireann chun cinntí a dhéanamh?
Did they empower the staff to make decisions?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To empower in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to empower?
The Irish for to empower is cumhachtaigh (pronounced “KOO-ukh-tee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is cumhachtú.
What is the verbal noun of cumhachtaigh?
The verbal noun of cumhachtaigh is cumhachtú, used after ag for the continuous: ag cumhachtú (empowering). The verbal adjective is cumhachtaithe.
How do you say cumhachtaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Chumhachtaigh mé; negative Níor chumhachtaigh mé; question Ar chumhachtaigh mé?. Future: Cumhachtóidh mé; negative Ní chumhachtóidh mé; question An gcumhachtóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of cumhachtaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Chumhachtóinn (I would empower); negative Ní chumhachtóinn; question An gcumhachtóinn?.
Does cumhachtaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cumhachtaigh can mean to empower or to energize, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'cumhachtaigh' and 'údaraigh'?
'Cumhachtaigh' means to give power or capacity, while 'údaraigh' means to authorize or give official permission.
