HeyRuaHow to say “to measure” in Irish
- Irish:
- tomhais
- English:
- to measure, guess
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- tomhas (ag tomhas, measuring)
- Verbal adjective:
- tomhaiste
- Pronunciation:
- “toosh” /t̪ˠuːʃ/
What does “tomhais” mean?
“Tomhais” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to measure
- To find the size, length, amount or weight of something.Also: gauge, weigh, size up.
1 other meaning: guess
- 2to guess
- To give an answer or estimate without knowing for sure.Also: estimate, reckon.
“Tomhais” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Thomhais méI measured | Níor thomhais méI did not measure | Ar thomhais mé?Did I measure? |
| tú (you) | Thomhais túYou measured | Níor thomhais túYou did not measure | Ar thomhais tú?Did you measure? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Thomhais sé / síHe measured | Níor thomhais sé / síHe did not measure | Ar thomhais sé / sí?Did he measure? |
| sinn (we) | ThomhaiseamarWe measured | Níor thomhaiseamarWe did not measure | Ar thomhaiseamar?Did we measure? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Thomhais sibhYou measured | Níor thomhais sibhYou did not measure | Ar thomhais sibh?Did you measure? |
| siad (they) | Thomhais siadThey measured | Níor thomhais siadThey did not measure | Ar thomhais siad?Did they measure? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Tomhaiseadh | Níor tomhaiseadh | Ar tomhaiseadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | TomhaisimI measure | Ní thomhaisimI do not measure | An dtomhaisim?Do I measure? |
| tú (you) | Tomhaiseann túYou measure | Ní thomhaiseann túYou do not measure | An dtomhaiseann tú?Do you measure? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Tomhaiseann sé / síHe measures | Ní thomhaiseann sé / síHe does not measure | An dtomhaiseann sé / sí?Does he measure? |
| sinn (we) | TomhaisimidWe measure | Ní thomhaisimidWe do not measure | An dtomhaisimid?Do we measure? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Tomhaiseann sibhYou measure | Ní thomhaiseann sibhYou do not measure | An dtomhaiseann sibh?Do you measure? |
| siad (they) | Tomhaiseann siadThey measure | Ní thomhaiseann siadThey do not measure | An dtomhaiseann siad?Do they measure? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Tomhaistear | Ní thomhaistear | An dtomhaistear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Tomhaisfidh méI will measure | Ní thomhaisfidh méI will not measure | An dtomhaisfidh mé?Will I measure? |
| tú (you) | Tomhaisfidh túYou will measure | Ní thomhaisfidh túYou will not measure | An dtomhaisfidh tú?Will you measure? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Tomhaisfidh sé / síHe will measure | Ní thomhaisfidh sé / síHe will not measure | An dtomhaisfidh sé / sí?Will he measure? |
| sinn (we) | TomhaisfimidWe will measure | Ní thomhaisfimidWe will not measure | An dtomhaisfimid?Will we measure? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Tomhaisfidh sibhYou will measure | Ní thomhaisfidh sibhYou will not measure | An dtomhaisfidh sibh?Will you measure? |
| siad (they) | Tomhaisfidh siadThey will measure | Ní thomhaisfidh siadThey will not measure | An dtomhaisfidh siad?Will they measure? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Tomhaisfear | Ní thomhaisfear | An dtomhaisfear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ThomhaisfinnI would measure | Ní thomhaisfinnI would not measure | An dtomhaisfinn?Would I measure? |
| tú (you) | ThomhaisfeáYou would measure | Ní thomhaisfeáYou would not measure | An dtomhaisfeá?Would you measure? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Thomhaisfeadh sé / síHe would measure | Ní thomhaisfeadh sé / síHe would not measure | An dtomhaisfeadh sé / sí?Would he measure? |
| sinn (we) | ThomhaisfimisWe would measure | Ní thomhaisfimisWe would not measure | An dtomhaisfimis?Would we measure? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Thomhaisfeadh sibhYou would measure | Ní thomhaisfeadh sibhYou would not measure | An dtomhaisfeadh sibh?Would you measure? |
| siad (they) | ThomhaisfidísThey would measure | Ní thomhaisfidísThey would not measure | An dtomhaisfidís?Would they measure? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Thomhaisfí | Ní thomhaisfí | An dtomhaisfí? |
“Tomhais” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Thomhais mé an seomra inné.
I measured the room yesterday.
Tomhaiseann an dochtúir airde na bpáistí.
The doctor measures the children's height.
Tomhaisfidh sí an fhuinneog amárach.
She will measure the window tomorrow.
Ní thomhaisfeá cá raibh mé!
You'd never guess where I was!
Níor thomhais siad an t-uisce i gceart.
They didn't measure the water properly.
Ar thomhais tú an t-adhmad fós?
Did you measure the wood yet?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To measure in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to measure?
The Irish for to measure is tomhais (pronounced “toosh”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is tomhas.
What is the verbal noun of tomhais?
The verbal noun of tomhais is tomhas, used after ag for the continuous: ag tomhas (measuring). The verbal adjective is tomhaiste.
How do you say tomhais in the past and the future?
Past: Thomhais mé; negative Níor thomhais mé; question Ar thomhais mé?. Future: Tomhaisfidh mé; negative Ní thomhaisfidh mé; question An dtomhaisfidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of tomhais?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Thomhaisfinn (I would measure); negative Ní thomhaisfinn; question An dtomhaisfinn?.
Does tomhais have more than one meaning?
Yes. Tomhais can mean to measure or to guess, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What does the verbal noun 'tomhas' mean on its own?
'Tomhas' means a measurement, and also a riddle or guess: 'Seo tomhas duit' means 'Here's a riddle for you'.
Is 'tomhais' the same as 'meáigh'?
No: 'meáigh' means to weigh, while 'tomhais' is the general verb to measure or to guess.
