HeyRuaHow to say “to peel” in Irish
- Irish:
- scamh
- English:
- to peel, strip, fray
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- scamhadh (ag scamhadh, peeling)
- Verbal adjective:
- scafa
- Pronunciation:
- “skav” /sˠkavˠ/
What does “scamh” mean?
“Scamh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to peel
- To remove the skin or outer layer from something, such as fruit or vegetables.Also: skin, strip, pare.
2 other meanings: strip or fray
- 2to strip
- To strip something bare or scale off its surface layer.Also: lay bare, scale, shave.
- 3to fray
- Of clothes or fabric, to wear thin or fray through rubbing; of knitting, to ravel.Also: wear thin, ravel.
“Scamh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Scamh méI peeled | Níor scamh méI did not peel | Ar scamh mé?Did I peel? |
| tú (you) | Scamh túYou peeled | Níor scamh túYou did not peel | Ar scamh tú?Did you peel? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Scamh sé / síHe peeled | Níor scamh sé / síHe did not peel | Ar scamh sé / sí?Did he peel? |
| sinn (we) | ScamhamarWe peeled | Níor scamhamarWe did not peel | Ar scamhamar?Did we peel? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Scamh sibhYou peeled | Níor scamh sibhYou did not peel | Ar scamh sibh?Did you peel? |
| siad (they) | Scamh siadThey peeled | Níor scamh siadThey did not peel | Ar scamh siad?Did they peel? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Scamhadh | Níor scamhadh | Ar scamhadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ScamhaimI peel | Ní scamhaimI do not peel | An scamhaim?Do I peel? |
| tú (you) | Scamhann túYou peel | Ní scamhann túYou do not peel | An scamhann tú?Do you peel? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Scamhann sé / síHe peels | Ní scamhann sé / síHe does not peel | An scamhann sé / sí?Does he peel? |
| sinn (we) | ScamhaimidWe peel | Ní scamhaimidWe do not peel | An scamhaimid?Do we peel? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Scamhann sibhYou peel | Ní scamhann sibhYou do not peel | An scamhann sibh?Do you peel? |
| siad (they) | Scamhann siadThey peel | Ní scamhann siadThey do not peel | An scamhann siad?Do they peel? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Scamhtar | Ní scamhtar | An scamhtar? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Scamhfaidh méI will peel | Ní scamhfaidh méI will not peel | An scamhfaidh mé?Will I peel? |
| tú (you) | Scamhfaidh túYou will peel | Ní scamhfaidh túYou will not peel | An scamhfaidh tú?Will you peel? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Scamhfaidh sé / síHe will peel | Ní scamhfaidh sé / síHe will not peel | An scamhfaidh sé / sí?Will he peel? |
| sinn (we) | ScamhfaimidWe will peel | Ní scamhfaimidWe will not peel | An scamhfaimid?Will we peel? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Scamhfaidh sibhYou will peel | Ní scamhfaidh sibhYou will not peel | An scamhfaidh sibh?Will you peel? |
| siad (they) | Scamhfaidh siadThey will peel | Ní scamhfaidh siadThey will not peel | An scamhfaidh siad?Will they peel? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Scamhfar | Ní scamhfar | An scamhfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ScamhfainnI would peel | Ní scamhfainnI would not peel | An scamhfainn?Would I peel? |
| tú (you) | ScamhfáYou would peel | Ní scamhfáYou would not peel | An scamhfá?Would you peel? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Scamhfadh sé / síHe would peel | Ní scamhfadh sé / síHe would not peel | An scamhfadh sé / sí?Would he peel? |
| sinn (we) | ScamhfaimisWe would peel | Ní scamhfaimisWe would not peel | An scamhfaimis?Would we peel? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Scamhfadh sibhYou would peel | Ní scamhfadh sibhYou would not peel | An scamhfadh sibh?Would you peel? |
| siad (they) | ScamhfaidísThey would peel | Ní scamhfaidísThey would not peel | An scamhfaidís?Would they peel? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Scamhfaí | Ní scamhfaí | An scamhfaí? |
“Scamh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Scamh mé na prátaí don dinnéar.
I peeled the potatoes for dinner.
Scamhann sí úll gach maidin.
She peels an apple every morning.
Scamhfaidh mé na cairéid anois.
I will peel the carrots now.
Scamhfainn an oráiste duit dá n-iarrfá orm.
I would peel the orange for you if you asked me.
Níor scamh sé an phéint den doras.
He didn't strip the paint off the door.
Ar scamh tú na prátaí fós?
Have you peeled the potatoes yet?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To peel in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to peel?
The Irish for to peel is scamh (pronounced “skav”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is scamhadh.
What is the verbal noun of scamh?
The verbal noun of scamh is scamhadh, used after ag for the continuous: ag scamhadh (peeling). The verbal adjective is scafa.
How do you say scamh in the past and the future?
Past: Scamh mé; negative Níor scamh mé; question Ar scamh mé?. Future: Scamhfaidh mé; negative Ní scamhfaidh mé; question An scamhfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of scamh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Scamhfainn (I would peel); negative Ní scamhfainn; question An scamhfainn?.
Does scamh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Scamh can mean to peel, to strip or to fray, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'scamh' and 'feann'?
'Scamh' is the usual word for peeling fruit or vegetables, as in 'scamh na prátaí'. 'Feann' means to skin or flay, usually an animal.
