HeyRuaHow to say “to side with” in Irish
- Irish:
- taobhaigh
- English:
- to side with, trust, approach
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- taobhú (ag taobhú, siding with)
- Verbal adjective:
- taobhaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “TAY-vee” /ˈt̪ˠeːvˠɪɟ/
What does “taobhaigh” mean?
“Taobhaigh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to side with
- To take someone's side or support them in a dispute or argument.Also: support, back, take sides with, favour.
2 other meanings: trust or approach
- 2to trust
- To place your trust or confidence in someone or something.Also: rely on, confide in, depend on.
- 3to approach
- To come or go near a place or person.Also: go near, come near, draw near.
“Taobhaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Thaobhaigh méI sided with | Níor thaobhaigh méI did not side with | Ar thaobhaigh mé?Did I side with? |
| tú (you) | Thaobhaigh túYou sided with | Níor thaobhaigh túYou did not side with | Ar thaobhaigh tú?Did you side with? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Thaobhaigh sé / síHe sided with | Níor thaobhaigh sé / síHe did not side with | Ar thaobhaigh sé / sí?Did he side with? |
| sinn (we) | ThaobhaíomarWe sided with | Níor thaobhaíomarWe did not side with | Ar thaobhaíomar?Did we side with? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Thaobhaigh sibhYou sided with | Níor thaobhaigh sibhYou did not side with | Ar thaobhaigh sibh?Did you side with? |
| siad (they) | Thaobhaigh siadThey sided with | Níor thaobhaigh siadThey did not side with | Ar thaobhaigh siad?Did they side with? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Taobhaíodh | Níor taobhaíodh | Ar taobhaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | TaobhaímI side with | Ní thaobhaímI do not side with | An dtaobhaím?Do I side with? |
| tú (you) | Taobhaíonn túYou side with | Ní thaobhaíonn túYou do not side with | An dtaobhaíonn tú?Do you side with? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Taobhaíonn sé / síHe sides with | Ní thaobhaíonn sé / síHe does not side with | An dtaobhaíonn sé / sí?Does he side with? |
| sinn (we) | TaobhaímidWe side with | Ní thaobhaímidWe do not side with | An dtaobhaímid?Do we side with? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Taobhaíonn sibhYou side with | Ní thaobhaíonn sibhYou do not side with | An dtaobhaíonn sibh?Do you side with? |
| siad (they) | Taobhaíonn siadThey side with | Ní thaobhaíonn siadThey do not side with | An dtaobhaíonn siad?Do they side with? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Taobhaítear | Ní thaobhaítear | An dtaobhaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Taobhóidh méI will side with | Ní thaobhóidh méI will not side with | An dtaobhóidh mé?Will I side with? |
| tú (you) | Taobhóidh túYou will side with | Ní thaobhóidh túYou will not side with | An dtaobhóidh tú?Will you side with? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Taobhóidh sé / síHe will side with | Ní thaobhóidh sé / síHe will not side with | An dtaobhóidh sé / sí?Will he side with? |
| sinn (we) | TaobhóimidWe will side with | Ní thaobhóimidWe will not side with | An dtaobhóimid?Will we side with? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Taobhóidh sibhYou will side with | Ní thaobhóidh sibhYou will not side with | An dtaobhóidh sibh?Will you side with? |
| siad (they) | Taobhóidh siadThey will side with | Ní thaobhóidh siadThey will not side with | An dtaobhóidh siad?Will they side with? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Taobhófar | Ní thaobhófar | An dtaobhófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ThaobhóinnI would side with | Ní thaobhóinnI would not side with | An dtaobhóinn?Would I side with? |
| tú (you) | ThaobhófáYou would side with | Ní thaobhófáYou would not side with | An dtaobhófá?Would you side with? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Thaobhódh sé / síHe would side with | Ní thaobhódh sé / síHe would not side with | An dtaobhódh sé / sí?Would he side with? |
| sinn (we) | ThaobhóimisWe would side with | Ní thaobhóimisWe would not side with | An dtaobhóimis?Would we side with? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Thaobhódh sibhYou would side with | Ní thaobhódh sibhYou would not side with | An dtaobhódh sibh?Would you side with? |
| siad (they) | ThaobhóidísThey would side with | Ní thaobhóidísThey would not side with | An dtaobhóidís?Would they side with? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Thaobhófaí | Ní thaobhófaí | An dtaobhófaí? |
“Taobhaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Thaobhaigh sí lena deartháir san argóint.
She sided with her brother in the argument.
Taobhaíonn an múinteoir leis na daltaí i gcónaí.
The teacher always sides with the pupils.
Taobhóidh mo chairde liom, táim cinnte.
My friends will side with me, I'm sure.
Thaobhódh sé leat dá mbeadh an ceart agat.
He would side with you if you were right.
Níor thaobhaigh duine ar bith leis.
Nobody at all sided with him.
Ar thaobhaigh do mháthair leat?
Did your mother side with you?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To side with in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to side with?
The Irish for to side with is taobhaigh (pronounced “TAY-vee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is taobhú.
What is the verbal noun of taobhaigh?
The verbal noun of taobhaigh is taobhú, used after ag for the continuous: ag taobhú (siding with). The verbal adjective is taobhaithe.
How do you say taobhaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Thaobhaigh mé; negative Níor thaobhaigh mé; question Ar thaobhaigh mé?. Future: Taobhóidh mé; negative Ní thaobhóidh mé; question An dtaobhóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of taobhaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Thaobhóinn (I would side with); negative Ní thaobhóinn; question An dtaobhóinn?.
Does taobhaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Taobhaigh can mean to side with, to trust or to approach, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Which preposition does 'taobhaigh' take?
It normally takes 'le': 'thaobhaigh sé liom' means 'he sided with me'.
How is 'taobhaigh' different from 'tacaigh'?
'Tacaigh le' means to support or back in general, while 'taobhaigh le' stresses taking someone's side in a dispute.
