HeyRuaHow to say “to soften” in Irish
- Irish:
- maothaigh
- English:
- to soften, moisten, move emotionally
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- maothú (ag maothú, softening)
- Verbal adjective:
- maothaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “MWEE-hee” /mˠiːhə/
What does “maothaigh” mean?
“Maothaigh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to soften
- To make something soft or softer, or to become soft.Also: make soft, mollify, tenderize.
2 other meanings: moisten or move emotionally
- 2to moisten
- To make something damp or wet, or to soak it.Also: soak, steep, dampen.
- 3to move emotionally
- To touch someone's feelings so that they become gentle or tearful.Also: move, touch, soften, affect.
“Maothaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Mhaothaigh méI softened | Níor mhaothaigh méI did not soften | Ar mhaothaigh mé?Did I soften? |
| tú (you) | Mhaothaigh túYou softened | Níor mhaothaigh túYou did not soften | Ar mhaothaigh tú?Did you soften? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mhaothaigh sé / síHe softened | Níor mhaothaigh sé / síHe did not soften | Ar mhaothaigh sé / sí?Did he soften? |
| sinn (we) | MhaothaíomarWe softened | Níor mhaothaíomarWe did not soften | Ar mhaothaíomar?Did we soften? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mhaothaigh sibhYou softened | Níor mhaothaigh sibhYou did not soften | Ar mhaothaigh sibh?Did you soften? |
| siad (they) | Mhaothaigh siadThey softened | Níor mhaothaigh siadThey did not soften | Ar mhaothaigh siad?Did they soften? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Maothaíodh | Níor maothaíodh | Ar maothaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MaothaímI soften | Ní mhaothaímI do not soften | An maothaím?Do I soften? |
| tú (you) | Maothaíonn túYou soften | Ní mhaothaíonn túYou do not soften | An maothaíonn tú?Do you soften? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Maothaíonn sé / síHe softens | Ní mhaothaíonn sé / síHe does not soften | An maothaíonn sé / sí?Does he soften? |
| sinn (we) | MaothaímidWe soften | Ní mhaothaímidWe do not soften | An maothaímid?Do we soften? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Maothaíonn sibhYou soften | Ní mhaothaíonn sibhYou do not soften | An maothaíonn sibh?Do you soften? |
| siad (they) | Maothaíonn siadThey soften | Ní mhaothaíonn siadThey do not soften | An maothaíonn siad?Do they soften? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Maothaítear | Ní mhaothaítear | An maothaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Maothóidh méI will soften | Ní mhaothóidh méI will not soften | An maothóidh mé?Will I soften? |
| tú (you) | Maothóidh túYou will soften | Ní mhaothóidh túYou will not soften | An maothóidh tú?Will you soften? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Maothóidh sé / síHe will soften | Ní mhaothóidh sé / síHe will not soften | An maothóidh sé / sí?Will he soften? |
| sinn (we) | MaothóimidWe will soften | Ní mhaothóimidWe will not soften | An maothóimid?Will we soften? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Maothóidh sibhYou will soften | Ní mhaothóidh sibhYou will not soften | An maothóidh sibh?Will you soften? |
| siad (they) | Maothóidh siadThey will soften | Ní mhaothóidh siadThey will not soften | An maothóidh siad?Will they soften? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Maothófar | Ní mhaothófar | An maothófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MhaothóinnI would soften | Ní mhaothóinnI would not soften | An maothóinn?Would I soften? |
| tú (you) | MhaothófáYou would soften | Ní mhaothófáYou would not soften | An maothófá?Would you soften? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mhaothódh sé / síHe would soften | Ní mhaothódh sé / síHe would not soften | An maothódh sé / sí?Would he soften? |
| sinn (we) | MhaothóimisWe would soften | Ní mhaothóimisWe would not soften | An maothóimis?Would we soften? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mhaothódh sibhYou would soften | Ní mhaothódh sibhYou would not soften | An maothódh sibh?Would you soften? |
| siad (they) | MhaothóidísThey would soften | Ní mhaothóidísThey would not soften | An maothóidís?Would they soften? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Mhaothófaí | Ní mhaothófaí | An maothófaí? |
“Maothaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Mhaothaigh sí na pónairí in uisce thar oíche.
She soaked the beans in water overnight.
Maothaíonn an bháisteach an talamh crua.
The rain softens the hard ground.
Maothóidh an t-im má fhágann tú amuigh é.
The butter will soften if you leave it out.
Mhaothódh an t-uisce te an leathar.
The hot water would soften the leather.
Níor mhaothaigh a cuid deor a chroí.
Her tears did not soften his heart.
Ar mhaothaigh tú an t-éadach roimh ré?
Did you soak the cloth beforehand?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To soften in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to soften?
The Irish for to soften is maothaigh (pronounced “MWEE-hee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is maothú.
What is the verbal noun of maothaigh?
The verbal noun of maothaigh is maothú, used after ag for the continuous: ag maothú (softening). The verbal adjective is maothaithe.
How do you say maothaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Mhaothaigh mé; negative Níor mhaothaigh mé; question Ar mhaothaigh mé?. Future: Maothóidh mé; negative Ní mhaothóidh mé; question An maothóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of maothaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Mhaothóinn (I would soften); negative Ní mhaothóinn; question An maothóinn?.
Does maothaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Maothaigh can mean to soften, to moisten or to move emotionally, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'maothaigh' and 'bog'?
'Bog' is the everyday word for soften or loosen, while 'maothaigh' often suggests softening by moisture or tenderness, as in 'maothaigh na piseanna' (soak the peas).
