HeyRuaHow to say “to forgive” in Irish
- Irish:
- maith
- English:
- to forgive, remit
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- maitheamh (ag maitheamh, forgiving)
- Verbal adjective:
- maite
- Pronunciation:
- “mah” /mˠah/
What does “maith” mean?
“Maith” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to forgive
- To stop blaming someone for a wrong they did to you.Also: pardon, excuse.
1 other meaning: remit
- 2to remit
- To cancel a debt or punishment that someone owes.Also: let off, write off.
The same spelling has its own page as:
“Maith” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Mhaith méI forgave | Níor mhaith méI did not forgive | Ar mhaith mé?Did I forgive? |
| tú (you) | Mhaith túYou forgave | Níor mhaith túYou did not forgive | Ar mhaith tú?Did you forgive? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mhaith sé / síHe forgave | Níor mhaith sé / síHe did not forgive | Ar mhaith sé / sí?Did he forgive? |
| sinn (we) | MhaitheamarWe forgave | Níor mhaitheamarWe did not forgive | Ar mhaitheamar?Did we forgive? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mhaith sibhYou forgave | Níor mhaith sibhYou did not forgive | Ar mhaith sibh?Did you forgive? |
| siad (they) | Mhaith siadThey forgave | Níor mhaith siadThey did not forgive | Ar mhaith siad?Did they forgive? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Maitheadh | Níor maitheadh | Ar maitheadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MaithimI forgive | Ní mhaithimI do not forgive | An maithim?Do I forgive? |
| tú (you) | Maitheann túYou forgive | Ní mhaitheann túYou do not forgive | An maitheann tú?Do you forgive? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Maitheann sé / síHe forgives | Ní mhaitheann sé / síHe does not forgive | An maitheann sé / sí?Does he forgive? |
| sinn (we) | MaithimidWe forgive | Ní mhaithimidWe do not forgive | An maithimid?Do we forgive? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Maitheann sibhYou forgive | Ní mhaitheann sibhYou do not forgive | An maitheann sibh?Do you forgive? |
| siad (they) | Maitheann siadThey forgive | Ní mhaitheann siadThey do not forgive | An maitheann siad?Do they forgive? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Maitear | Ní mhaitear | An maitear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Maithfidh méI will forgive | Ní mhaithfidh méI will not forgive | An maithfidh mé?Will I forgive? |
| tú (you) | Maithfidh túYou will forgive | Ní mhaithfidh túYou will not forgive | An maithfidh tú?Will you forgive? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Maithfidh sé / síHe will forgive | Ní mhaithfidh sé / síHe will not forgive | An maithfidh sé / sí?Will he forgive? |
| sinn (we) | MaithfimidWe will forgive | Ní mhaithfimidWe will not forgive | An maithfimid?Will we forgive? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Maithfidh sibhYou will forgive | Ní mhaithfidh sibhYou will not forgive | An maithfidh sibh?Will you forgive? |
| siad (they) | Maithfidh siadThey will forgive | Ní mhaithfidh siadThey will not forgive | An maithfidh siad?Will they forgive? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Maithfear | Ní mhaithfear | An maithfear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MhaithfinnI would forgive | Ní mhaithfinnI would not forgive | An maithfinn?Would I forgive? |
| tú (you) | MhaithfeáYou would forgive | Ní mhaithfeáYou would not forgive | An maithfeá?Would you forgive? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mhaithfeadh sé / síHe would forgive | Ní mhaithfeadh sé / síHe would not forgive | An maithfeadh sé / sí?Would he forgive? |
| sinn (we) | MhaithfimisWe would forgive | Ní mhaithfimisWe would not forgive | An maithfimis?Would we forgive? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mhaithfeadh sibhYou would forgive | Ní mhaithfeadh sibhYou would not forgive | An maithfeadh sibh?Would you forgive? |
| siad (they) | MhaithfidísThey would forgive | Ní mhaithfidísThey would not forgive | An maithfidís?Would they forgive? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Mhaithfí | Ní mhaithfí | An maithfí? |
“Maith” 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 forgive in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to forgive?
The Irish for to forgive is maith (pronounced “mah”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is maitheamh.
What is the verbal noun of maith?
The verbal noun of maith is maitheamh, used after ag for the continuous: ag maitheamh (forgiving). The verbal adjective is maite.
How do you say maith in the past and the future?
Past: Mhaith mé; negative Níor mhaith mé; question Ar mhaith mé?. Future: Maithfidh mé; negative Ní mhaithfidh mé; question An maithfidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of maith?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Mhaithfinn (I would forgive); negative Ní mhaithfinn; question An maithfinn?.
Does maith have more than one meaning?
Yes. Maith can mean to forgive or to remit, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Which preposition is used with 'maith'?
You forgive something to someone with 'do': 'Mhaith mé dó é' means 'I forgave him for it'.
Is 'maith' in 'Maith thú!' the verb?
No, in 'Maith thú!' and 'go maith' it is the adjective meaning 'good'; the verb 'maith' means to forgive.
