HeyRuaHow to say “to empty” in Irish
- Irish:
- folmhaigh
- English:
- to empty, drain, unload
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- folmhú (ag folmhú, emptying)
- Verbal adjective:
- folmhaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “FOL-uh-vuh” /ˈfˠɔlˠəvˠə/
What does “folmhaigh” mean?
“Folmhaigh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to empty
- To take everything out of something so that nothing is left in it.Also: clear out, turn out, unpack.
2 other meanings: drain or unload
- 2to drain
- To drink all of a cup or glass, or let all the liquid out of something.Also: drink dry, exhaust.
- 3to unload
- To take the load or contents out of something such as a ship, a gun or a machine.Also: discharge.
“Folmhaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'fholmhaigh méI emptied | Níor fholmhaigh méI did not empty | Ar fholmhaigh mé?Did I empty? |
| tú (you) | D'fholmhaigh túYou emptied | Níor fholmhaigh túYou did not empty | Ar fholmhaigh tú?Did you empty? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'fholmhaigh sé / síHe emptied | Níor fholmhaigh sé / síHe did not empty | Ar fholmhaigh sé / sí?Did he empty? |
| sinn (we) | D'fholmhaíomarWe emptied | Níor fholmhaíomarWe did not empty | Ar fholmhaíomar?Did we empty? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'fholmhaigh sibhYou emptied | Níor fholmhaigh sibhYou did not empty | Ar fholmhaigh sibh?Did you empty? |
| siad (they) | D'fholmhaigh siadThey emptied | Níor fholmhaigh siadThey did not empty | Ar fholmhaigh siad?Did they empty? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Folmhaíodh | Níor folmhaíodh | Ar folmhaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | FolmhaímI empty | Ní fholmhaímI do not empty | An bhfolmhaím?Do I empty? |
| tú (you) | Folmhaíonn túYou empty | Ní fholmhaíonn túYou do not empty | An bhfolmhaíonn tú?Do you empty? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Folmhaíonn sé / síHe empties | Ní fholmhaíonn sé / síHe does not empty | An bhfolmhaíonn sé / sí?Does he empty? |
| sinn (we) | FolmhaímidWe empty | Ní fholmhaímidWe do not empty | An bhfolmhaímid?Do we empty? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Folmhaíonn sibhYou empty | Ní fholmhaíonn sibhYou do not empty | An bhfolmhaíonn sibh?Do you empty? |
| siad (they) | Folmhaíonn siadThey empty | Ní fholmhaíonn siadThey do not empty | An bhfolmhaíonn siad?Do they empty? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Folmhaítear | Ní fholmhaítear | An bhfolmhaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Folmhóidh méI will empty | Ní fholmhóidh méI will not empty | An bhfolmhóidh mé?Will I empty? |
| tú (you) | Folmhóidh túYou will empty | Ní fholmhóidh túYou will not empty | An bhfolmhóidh tú?Will you empty? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Folmhóidh sé / síHe will empty | Ní fholmhóidh sé / síHe will not empty | An bhfolmhóidh sé / sí?Will he empty? |
| sinn (we) | FolmhóimidWe will empty | Ní fholmhóimidWe will not empty | An bhfolmhóimid?Will we empty? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Folmhóidh sibhYou will empty | Ní fholmhóidh sibhYou will not empty | An bhfolmhóidh sibh?Will you empty? |
| siad (they) | Folmhóidh siadThey will empty | Ní fholmhóidh siadThey will not empty | An bhfolmhóidh siad?Will they empty? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Folmhófar | Ní fholmhófar | An bhfolmhófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'fholmhóinnI would empty | Ní fholmhóinnI would not empty | An bhfolmhóinn?Would I empty? |
| tú (you) | D'fholmhófáYou would empty | Ní fholmhófáYou would not empty | An bhfolmhófá?Would you empty? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'fholmhódh sé / síHe would empty | Ní fholmhódh sé / síHe would not empty | An bhfolmhódh sé / sí?Would he empty? |
| sinn (we) | D'fholmhóimisWe would empty | Ní fholmhóimisWe would not empty | An bhfolmhóimis?Would we empty? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'fholmhódh sibhYou would empty | Ní fholmhódh sibhYou would not empty | An bhfolmhódh sibh?Would you empty? |
| siad (they) | D'fholmhóidísThey would empty | Ní fholmhóidísThey would not empty | An bhfolmhóidís?Would they empty? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | D'fholmhófaí | Ní fholmhófaí | An bhfolmhófaí? |
“Folmhaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
D'fholmhaigh sí an bosca bruscair inné.
She emptied the bin yesterday.
Folmhaíonn sé a phócaí gach oíche.
He empties his pockets every night.
Folmhóidh mé an miasniteoir ar ball.
I'll empty the dishwasher later.
D'fholmhóinn an mála dá mbeadh am agam.
I would unpack the bag if I had time.
Níor fholmhaigh siad an seomra fós.
They haven't cleared out the room yet.
Ar fholmhaigh tú do ghloine?
Did you empty your glass?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To empty in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to empty?
The Irish for to empty is folmhaigh (pronounced “FOL-uh-vuh”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is folmhú.
What is the verbal noun of folmhaigh?
The verbal noun of folmhaigh is folmhú, used after ag for the continuous: ag folmhú (emptying). The verbal adjective is folmhaithe.
How do you say folmhaigh in the past and the future?
Past: D'fholmhaigh mé; negative Níor fholmhaigh mé; question Ar fholmhaigh mé?. Future: Folmhóidh mé; negative Ní fholmhóidh mé; question An bhfolmhóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of folmhaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is D'fholmhóinn (I would empty); negative Ní fholmhóinn; question An bhfolmhóinn?.
Does folmhaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Folmhaigh can mean to empty, to drain or to unload, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the opposite of 'folmhaigh'?
The opposite is 'líon', to fill: 'líon an buidéal' means fill the bottle, while 'folmhaigh an buidéal' means empty it.
Is there an adjective related to 'folmhaigh'?
Yes, 'folamh' means empty, as in 'tá an teach folamh', the house is empty.
