HeyRuaHow to say “to swap” in Irish
- Irish:
- babhtáil
- English:
- to swap
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- babhtáil (ag babhtáil, swapping)
- Verbal adjective:
- babhtáilte
- Pronunciation:
- “BOW-taw-il” /ˈbˠəuˌt̪ˠɑːlʲ/
What does “babhtáil” mean?
- to swap
- To exchange one thing for another with someone.Also: exchange, trade, barter, switch.
Other Irish verbs for to swap: malartaigh (exchange)
“Babhtáil” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Bhabhtáil méI swapped | Níor bhabhtáil méI did not swap | Ar bhabhtáil mé?Did I swap? |
| tú (you) | Bhabhtáil túYou swapped | Níor bhabhtáil túYou did not swap | Ar bhabhtáil tú?Did you swap? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bhabhtáil sé / síHe swapped | Níor bhabhtáil sé / síHe did not swap | Ar bhabhtáil sé / sí?Did he swap? |
| sinn (we) | BhabhtálamarWe swapped | Níor bhabhtálamarWe did not swap | Ar bhabhtálamar?Did we swap? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bhabhtáil sibhYou swapped | Níor bhabhtáil sibhYou did not swap | Ar bhabhtáil sibh?Did you swap? |
| siad (they) | Bhabhtáil siadThey swapped | Níor bhabhtáil siadThey did not swap | Ar bhabhtáil siad?Did they swap? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Babhtáladh | Níor babhtáladh | Ar babhtáladh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | BabhtálaimI swap | Ní bhabhtálaimI do not swap | An mbabhtálaim?Do I swap? |
| tú (you) | Babhtálann túYou swap | Ní bhabhtálann túYou do not swap | An mbabhtálann tú?Do you swap? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Babhtálann sé / síHe swaps | Ní bhabhtálann sé / síHe does not swap | An mbabhtálann sé / sí?Does he swap? |
| sinn (we) | BabhtálaimidWe swap | Ní bhabhtálaimidWe do not swap | An mbabhtálaimid?Do we swap? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Babhtálann sibhYou swap | Ní bhabhtálann sibhYou do not swap | An mbabhtálann sibh?Do you swap? |
| siad (they) | Babhtálann siadThey swap | Ní bhabhtálann siadThey do not swap | An mbabhtálann siad?Do they swap? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Babhtáiltear | Ní bhabhtáiltear | An mbabhtáiltear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Babhtálfaidh méI will swap | Ní bhabhtálfaidh méI will not swap | An mbabhtálfaidh mé?Will I swap? |
| tú (you) | Babhtálfaidh túYou will swap | Ní bhabhtálfaidh túYou will not swap | An mbabhtálfaidh tú?Will you swap? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Babhtálfaidh sé / síHe will swap | Ní bhabhtálfaidh sé / síHe will not swap | An mbabhtálfaidh sé / sí?Will he swap? |
| sinn (we) | BabhtálfaimidWe will swap | Ní bhabhtálfaimidWe will not swap | An mbabhtálfaimid?Will we swap? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Babhtálfaidh sibhYou will swap | Ní bhabhtálfaidh sibhYou will not swap | An mbabhtálfaidh sibh?Will you swap? |
| siad (they) | Babhtálfaidh siadThey will swap | Ní bhabhtálfaidh siadThey will not swap | An mbabhtálfaidh siad?Will they swap? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Babhtálfar | Ní bhabhtálfar | An mbabhtálfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | BhabhtálfainnI would swap | Ní bhabhtálfainnI would not swap | An mbabhtálfainn?Would I swap? |
| tú (you) | BhabhtálfáYou would swap | Ní bhabhtálfáYou would not swap | An mbabhtálfá?Would you swap? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Bhabhtálfadh sé / síHe would swap | Ní bhabhtálfadh sé / síHe would not swap | An mbabhtálfadh sé / sí?Would he swap? |
| sinn (we) | BhabhtálfaimisWe would swap | Ní bhabhtálfaimisWe would not swap | An mbabhtálfaimis?Would we swap? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Bhabhtálfadh sibhYou would swap | Ní bhabhtálfadh sibhYou would not swap | An mbabhtálfadh sibh?Would you swap? |
| siad (they) | BhabhtálfaidísThey would swap | Ní bhabhtálfaidísThey would not swap | An mbabhtálfaidís?Would they swap? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Bhabhtálfaí | Ní bhabhtálfaí | An mbabhtálfaí? |
“Babhtáil” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Bhabhtáil mé mo rothar le mo dheartháir inné.
I swapped my bike with my brother yesterday.
Babhtálann na páistí cártaí ag am lóin.
The children swap cards at lunchtime.
Babhtálfaidh mé suíocháin leat más maith leat.
I'll swap seats with you if you like.
Bhabhtálfainn mo cheapaire ar do cheann féin.
I would swap my sandwich for yours.
Níor bhabhtáil sí a hata le duine ar bith.
She didn't swap her hat with anyone.
Ar bhabhtáil tú na leabhair le Seán?
Did you swap the books with Seán?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To swap in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to swap?
The Irish for to swap is babhtáil (pronounced “BOW-taw-il”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is babhtáil.
What is the verbal noun of babhtáil?
The verbal noun of babhtáil is babhtáil, used after ag for the continuous: ag babhtáil (swapping). The verbal adjective is babhtáilte.
How do you say babhtáil in the past and the future?
Past: Bhabhtáil mé; negative Níor bhabhtáil mé; question Ar bhabhtáil mé?. Future: Babhtálfaidh mé; negative Ní bhabhtálfaidh mé; question An mbabhtálfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of babhtáil?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Bhabhtálfainn (I would swap); negative Ní bhabhtálfainn; question An mbabhtálfainn?.
What is the difference between 'babhtáil' and 'malartaigh'?
'Babhtáil' is the everyday word for swapping, while 'malartaigh' is more formal and is used for exchanging goods or currency.
Which prepositions go with 'babhtáil'?
You swap something 'le' someone and 'ar' something else, as in 'bhabhtáil mé mo pheann ar a leabhar'.
