HeyRuaHow to say “to found” in Irish
- Irish:
- bunaigh
- English:
- to found, base, settle
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- bunú (ag bunú, founding)
- Verbal adjective:
- bunaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “BUN-ee” /ˈbˠʊnˠiː/
What does “bunaigh” mean?
“Bunaigh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to found
- To start or set up an organisation, institution, company or state.Also: establish, set up, start.
2 other meanings: base or settle
- 2to base
- To base something on something else, usually with 'ar'.Also: ground, build on.
- 3to settle
- To settle or become established in a place.Also: become established.
“Bunaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Bhunaigh méI founded | Níor bhunaigh méI did not found | Ar bhunaigh mé?Did I found? |
| tú (you) | Bhunaigh túYou founded | Níor bhunaigh túYou did not found | Ar bhunaigh tú?Did you found? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bhunaigh sé / síHe founded | Níor bhunaigh sé / síHe did not found | Ar bhunaigh sé / sí?Did he found? |
| sinn (we) | BhunaíomarWe founded | Níor bhunaíomarWe did not found | Ar bhunaíomar?Did we found? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bhunaigh sibhYou founded | Níor bhunaigh sibhYou did not found | Ar bhunaigh sibh?Did you found? |
| siad (they) | Bhunaigh siadThey founded | Níor bhunaigh siadThey did not found | Ar bhunaigh siad?Did they found? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Bunaíodh | Níor bunaíodh | Ar bunaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | BunaímI found | Ní bhunaímI do not found | An mbunaím?Do I found? |
| tú (you) | Bunaíonn túYou found | Ní bhunaíonn túYou do not found | An mbunaíonn tú?Do you found? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bunaíonn sé / síHe founds | Ní bhunaíonn sé / síHe does not found | An mbunaíonn sé / sí?Does he found? |
| sinn (we) | BunaímidWe found | Ní bhunaímidWe do not found | An mbunaímid?Do we found? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bunaíonn sibhYou found | Ní bhunaíonn sibhYou do not found | An mbunaíonn sibh?Do you found? |
| siad (they) | Bunaíonn siadThey found | Ní bhunaíonn siadThey do not found | An mbunaíonn siad?Do they found? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Bunaítear | Ní bhunaítear | An mbunaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Bunóidh méI will found | Ní bhunóidh méI will not found | An mbunóidh mé?Will I found? |
| tú (you) | Bunóidh túYou will found | Ní bhunóidh túYou will not found | An mbunóidh tú?Will you found? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bunóidh sé / síHe will found | Ní bhunóidh sé / síHe will not found | An mbunóidh sé / sí?Will he found? |
| sinn (we) | BunóimidWe will found | Ní bhunóimidWe will not found | An mbunóimid?Will we found? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bunóidh sibhYou will found | Ní bhunóidh sibhYou will not found | An mbunóidh sibh?Will you found? |
| siad (they) | Bunóidh siadThey will found | Ní bhunóidh siadThey will not found | An mbunóidh siad?Will they found? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Bunófar | Ní bhunófar | An mbunófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | BhunóinnI would found | Ní bhunóinnI would not found | An mbunóinn?Would I found? |
| tú (you) | BhunófáYou would found | Ní bhunófáYou would not found | An mbunófá?Would you found? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bhunódh sé / síHe would found | Ní bhunódh sé / síHe would not found | An mbunódh sé / sí?Would he found? |
| sinn (we) | BhunóimisWe would found | Ní bhunóimisWe would not found | An mbunóimis?Would we found? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bhunódh sibhYou would found | Ní bhunódh sibhYou would not found | An mbunódh sibh?Would you found? |
| siad (they) | BhunóidísThey would found | Ní bhunóidísThey would not found | An mbunóidís?Would they found? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Bhunófaí | Ní bhunófaí | An mbunófaí? |
“Bunaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Bhunaigh siad club peile sa bhaile anuraidh.
They founded a football club in the town last year.
Bunaíonn go leor daoine óga gnólachtaí nua anois.
Many young people set up new businesses now.
Bunóidh an rialtas coiste nua an mhí seo chugainn.
The government will establish a new committee next month.
Bhunóinn scoil Ghaeilge dá mbeadh an t-airgead agam.
I would found an Irish-language school if I had the money.
Níor bunaíodh an cumann go dtí 1950.
The society was not founded until 1950.
Ar bhunaigh do sheanathair an comhlacht seo?
Did your grandfather found this company?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To found in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to found?
The Irish for to found is bunaigh (pronounced “BUN-ee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is bunú.
What is the verbal noun of bunaigh?
The verbal noun of bunaigh is bunú, used after ag for the continuous: ag bunú (founding). The verbal adjective is bunaithe.
How do you say bunaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Bhunaigh mé; negative Níor bhunaigh mé; question Ar bhunaigh mé?. Future: Bunóidh mé; negative Ní bhunóidh mé; question An mbunóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of bunaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Bhunóinn (I would found); negative Ní bhunóinn; question An mbunóinn?.
Does bunaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Bunaigh can mean to found, to base or to settle, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'based on' in Irish?
Use the verbal adjective with 'ar': 'bunaithe ar scéal fíor' means 'based on a true story'.
Is there another way to say 'set up' besides 'bunaigh'?
Yes, 'cuir ar bun' is very common: 'Chuir siad gnó ar bun' means 'They set up a business'.
