HeyRuaHow to say “to tempt” in Irish
- Irish:
- cathaigh
- English:
- to tempt, fight
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- cathú (ag cathú, tempting)
- Verbal adjective:
- cathaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “KA-hee” /ˈkahə/
What does “cathaigh” mean?
“Cathaigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to tempt
- To try to persuade someone to do something wrong or unwise, or to be drawn towards it.Also: entice, lure.
1 other meaning: fight
- 2to fight
- To fight or do battle; this sense is literary and rarely used today.Also: battle, do battle.
“Cathaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Chathaigh méI tempted | Níor chathaigh méI did not tempt | Ar chathaigh mé?Did I tempt? |
| tú (you) | Chathaigh túYou tempted | Níor chathaigh túYou did not tempt | Ar chathaigh tú?Did you tempt? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chathaigh sé / síHe tempted | Níor chathaigh sé / síHe did not tempt | Ar chathaigh sé / sí?Did he tempt? |
| sinn (we) | ChathaíomarWe tempted | Níor chathaíomarWe did not tempt | Ar chathaíomar?Did we tempt? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chathaigh sibhYou tempted | Níor chathaigh sibhYou did not tempt | Ar chathaigh sibh?Did you tempt? |
| siad (they) | Chathaigh siadThey tempted | Níor chathaigh siadThey did not tempt | Ar chathaigh siad?Did they tempt? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cathaíodh | Níor cathaíodh | Ar cathaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CathaímI tempt | Ní chathaímI do not tempt | An gcathaím?Do I tempt? |
| tú (you) | Cathaíonn túYou tempt | Ní chathaíonn túYou do not tempt | An gcathaíonn tú?Do you tempt? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cathaíonn sé / síHe tempts | Ní chathaíonn sé / síHe does not tempt | An gcathaíonn sé / sí?Does he tempt? |
| sinn (we) | CathaímidWe tempt | Ní chathaímidWe do not tempt | An gcathaímid?Do we tempt? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cathaíonn sibhYou tempt | Ní chathaíonn sibhYou do not tempt | An gcathaíonn sibh?Do you tempt? |
| siad (they) | Cathaíonn siadThey tempt | Ní chathaíonn siadThey do not tempt | An gcathaíonn siad?Do they tempt? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cathaítear | Ní chathaítear | An gcathaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Cathóidh méI will tempt | Ní chathóidh méI will not tempt | An gcathóidh mé?Will I tempt? |
| tú (you) | Cathóidh túYou will tempt | Ní chathóidh túYou will not tempt | An gcathóidh tú?Will you tempt? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cathóidh sé / síHe will tempt | Ní chathóidh sé / síHe will not tempt | An gcathóidh sé / sí?Will he tempt? |
| sinn (we) | CathóimidWe will tempt | Ní chathóimidWe will not tempt | An gcathóimid?Will we tempt? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cathóidh sibhYou will tempt | Ní chathóidh sibhYou will not tempt | An gcathóidh sibh?Will you tempt? |
| siad (they) | Cathóidh siadThey will tempt | Ní chathóidh siadThey will not tempt | An gcathóidh siad?Will they tempt? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cathófar | Ní chathófar | An gcathófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChathóinnI would tempt | Ní chathóinnI would not tempt | An gcathóinn?Would I tempt? |
| tú (you) | ChathófáYou would tempt | Ní chathófáYou would not tempt | An gcathófá?Would you tempt? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chathódh sé / síHe would tempt | Ní chathódh sé / síHe would not tempt | An gcathódh sé / sí?Would he tempt? |
| sinn (we) | ChathóimisWe would tempt | Ní chathóimisWe would not tempt | An gcathóimis?Would we tempt? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chathódh sibhYou would tempt | Ní chathódh sibhYou would not tempt | An gcathódh sibh?Would you tempt? |
| siad (they) | ChathóidísThey would tempt | Ní chathóidísThey would not tempt | An gcathóidís?Would they tempt? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Chathófaí | Ní chathófaí | An gcathófaí? |
“Cathaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To tempt in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to tempt?
The Irish for to tempt is cathaigh (pronounced “KA-hee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is cathú.
What is the verbal noun of cathaigh?
The verbal noun of cathaigh is cathú, used after ag for the continuous: ag cathú (tempting). The verbal adjective is cathaithe.
How do you say cathaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Chathaigh mé; negative Níor chathaigh mé; question Ar chathaigh mé?. Future: Cathóidh mé; negative Ní chathóidh mé; question An gcathóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of cathaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Chathóinn (I would tempt); negative Ní chathóinn; question An gcathóinn?.
Does cathaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cathaigh can mean to tempt or to fight, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'I was tempted' in Irish?
The usual idiom uses the verbal noun: 'Bhí cathú orm é a cheannach', I was tempted to buy it.
What is the difference between 'cathaigh' and 'meall'?
'Cathaigh' stresses temptation, often towards wrongdoing, while 'meall' means to lure, coax or charm, and also to deceive.
