HeyRuaHow to say “to smother” in Irish
- Irish:
- plúch
- English:
- to smother, muffle, congest
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- plúchadh (ag plúchadh, smothering)
- Verbal adjective:
- plúchta
- Pronunciation:
- “plookh” /pˠl̪ˠuːx/
What does “plúch” mean?
“Plúch” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to smother
- To stop someone or something from breathing, or to put out a fire by covering it.Also: suffocate, stifle, asphyxiate, choke.
2 other meanings: muffle or congest
- 2to muffle
- To deaden or suppress a sound, feeling or signal.Also: deaden, suppress, jam.
- 3to congest
- To crowd, block or overwhelm something, such as a road or a market.Also: crowd, glut, inundate, overwhelm.
“Plúch” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Phlúch méI smothered | Níor phlúch méI did not smother | Ar phlúch mé?Did I smother? |
| tú (you) | Phlúch túYou smothered | Níor phlúch túYou did not smother | Ar phlúch tú?Did you smother? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Phlúch sé / síHe smothered | Níor phlúch sé / síHe did not smother | Ar phlúch sé / sí?Did he smother? |
| sinn (we) | PhlúchamarWe smothered | Níor phlúchamarWe did not smother | Ar phlúchamar?Did we smother? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Phlúch sibhYou smothered | Níor phlúch sibhYou did not smother | Ar phlúch sibh?Did you smother? |
| siad (they) | Phlúch siadThey smothered | Níor phlúch siadThey did not smother | Ar phlúch siad?Did they smother? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Plúchadh | Níor plúchadh | Ar plúchadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | PlúchaimI smother | Ní phlúchaimI do not smother | An bplúchaim?Do I smother? |
| tú (you) | Plúchann túYou smother | Ní phlúchann túYou do not smother | An bplúchann tú?Do you smother? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Plúchann sé / síHe smothers | Ní phlúchann sé / síHe does not smother | An bplúchann sé / sí?Does he smother? |
| sinn (we) | PlúchaimidWe smother | Ní phlúchaimidWe do not smother | An bplúchaimid?Do we smother? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Plúchann sibhYou smother | Ní phlúchann sibhYou do not smother | An bplúchann sibh?Do you smother? |
| siad (they) | Plúchann siadThey smother | Ní phlúchann siadThey do not smother | An bplúchann siad?Do they smother? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Plúchtar | Ní phlúchtar | An bplúchtar? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Plúchfaidh méI will smother | Ní phlúchfaidh méI will not smother | An bplúchfaidh mé?Will I smother? |
| tú (you) | Plúchfaidh túYou will smother | Ní phlúchfaidh túYou will not smother | An bplúchfaidh tú?Will you smother? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Plúchfaidh sé / síHe will smother | Ní phlúchfaidh sé / síHe will not smother | An bplúchfaidh sé / sí?Will he smother? |
| sinn (we) | PlúchfaimidWe will smother | Ní phlúchfaimidWe will not smother | An bplúchfaimid?Will we smother? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Plúchfaidh sibhYou will smother | Ní phlúchfaidh sibhYou will not smother | An bplúchfaidh sibh?Will you smother? |
| siad (they) | Plúchfaidh siadThey will smother | Ní phlúchfaidh siadThey will not smother | An bplúchfaidh siad?Will they smother? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Plúchfar | Ní phlúchfar | An bplúchfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | PhlúchfainnI would smother | Ní phlúchfainnI would not smother | An bplúchfainn?Would I smother? |
| tú (you) | PhlúchfáYou would smother | Ní phlúchfáYou would not smother | An bplúchfá?Would you smother? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Phlúchfadh sé / síHe would smother | Ní phlúchfadh sé / síHe would not smother | An bplúchfadh sé / sí?Would he smother? |
| sinn (we) | PhlúchfaimisWe would smother | Ní phlúchfaimisWe would not smother | An bplúchfaimis?Would we smother? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Phlúchfadh sibhYou would smother | Ní phlúchfadh sibhYou would not smother | An bplúchfadh sibh?Would you smother? |
| siad (they) | PhlúchfaidísThey would smother | Ní phlúchfaidísThey would not smother | An bplúchfaidís?Would they smother? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Phlúchfaí | Ní phlúchfaí | An bplúchfaí? |
“Plúch” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Phlúch an deatach an seanfhear sa seomra.
The smoke smothered the old man in the room.
Plúchann an deatach mé gach uair.
The smoke chokes me every time.
Plúchfaidh an brat an tine.
The blanket will smother the fire.
Phlúchfadh an teas thú sa traein sin.
The heat in that train would suffocate you.
Níor phlúch sé a gháire.
He didn't stifle his laugh.
Ar phlúch an sneachta an fhuaim?
Did the snow muffle the sound?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To smother in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to smother?
The Irish for to smother is plúch (pronounced “plookh”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is plúchadh.
What is the verbal noun of plúch?
The verbal noun of plúch is plúchadh, used after ag for the continuous: ag plúchadh (smothering). The verbal adjective is plúchta.
How do you say plúch in the past and the future?
Past: Phlúch mé; negative Níor phlúch mé; question Ar phlúch mé?. Future: Plúchfaidh mé; negative Ní phlúchfaidh mé; question An bplúchfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of plúch?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Phlúchfainn (I would smother); negative Ní phlúchfainn; question An bplúchfainn?.
Does plúch have more than one meaning?
Yes. Plúch can mean to smother, to muffle or to congest, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'plúch' and 'múch'?
'Múch' is the usual word for putting out a light or fire, while 'plúch' stresses smothering or suffocating, as in 'phlúch an deatach é' (the smoke smothered him).
