HeyRuaHow to say “to throw” in Irish
- Irish:
- caith
- English:
- to throw, spend, wear, must
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- caitheamh (ag caitheamh, throwing)
- Verbal adjective:
- caite
- Pronunciation:
- “kah” /kah/
What does “caith” mean?
“Caith” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to throw
- To send something through the air with your hand.Also: fling, cast, toss.
3 other meanings: spend or wear or must
- 2to spend
- To use up time or money.Also: pass time, use up.
- 3to wear
- To have clothes or glasses on your body.Also: have on.
- 4to must
- In the future form 'caithfidh', to be obliged to do something.Also: have to, be obliged to.
Other Irish verbs for to throw: teilg (cast)
“Caith” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Chaith méI threw | Níor chaith méI did not throw | Ar chaith mé?Did I throw? |
| tú (you) | Chaith túYou threw | Níor chaith túYou did not throw | Ar chaith tú?Did you throw? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chaith sé / síHe threw | Níor chaith sé / síHe did not throw | Ar chaith sé / sí?Did he throw? |
| sinn (we) | ChaitheamarWe threw | Níor chaitheamarWe did not throw | Ar chaitheamar?Did we throw? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chaith sibhYou threw | Níor chaith sibhYou did not throw | Ar chaith sibh?Did you throw? |
| siad (they) | Chaith siadThey threw | Níor chaith siadThey did not throw | Ar chaith siad?Did they throw? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Caitheadh | Níor caitheadh | Ar caitheadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CaithimI throw | Ní chaithimI do not throw | An gcaithim?Do I throw? |
| tú (you) | Caitheann túYou throw | Ní chaitheann túYou do not throw | An gcaitheann tú?Do you throw? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Caitheann sé / síHe throws | Ní chaitheann sé / síHe does not throw | An gcaitheann sé / sí?Does he throw? |
| sinn (we) | CaithimidWe throw | Ní chaithimidWe do not throw | An gcaithimid?Do we throw? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Caitheann sibhYou throw | Ní chaitheann sibhYou do not throw | An gcaitheann sibh?Do you throw? |
| siad (they) | Caitheann siadThey throw | Ní chaitheann siadThey do not throw | An gcaitheann siad?Do they throw? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Caitear | Ní chaitear | An gcaitear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Caithfidh méI will throw | Ní chaithfidh méI will not throw | An gcaithfidh mé?Will I throw? |
| tú (you) | Caithfidh túYou will throw | Ní chaithfidh túYou will not throw | An gcaithfidh tú?Will you throw? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Caithfidh sé / síHe will throw | Ní chaithfidh sé / síHe will not throw | An gcaithfidh sé / sí?Will he throw? |
| sinn (we) | CaithfimidWe will throw | Ní chaithfimidWe will not throw | An gcaithfimid?Will we throw? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Caithfidh sibhYou will throw | Ní chaithfidh sibhYou will not throw | An gcaithfidh sibh?Will you throw? |
| siad (they) | Caithfidh siadThey will throw | Ní chaithfidh siadThey will not throw | An gcaithfidh siad?Will they throw? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Caithfear | Ní chaithfear | An gcaithfear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChaithfinnI would throw | Ní chaithfinnI would not throw | An gcaithfinn?Would I throw? |
| tú (you) | ChaithfeáYou would throw | Ní chaithfeáYou would not throw | An gcaithfeá?Would you throw? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chaithfeadh sé / síHe would throw | Ní chaithfeadh sé / síHe would not throw | An gcaithfeadh sé / sí?Would he throw? |
| sinn (we) | ChaithfimisWe would throw | Ní chaithfimisWe would not throw | An gcaithfimis?Would we throw? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chaithfeadh sibhYou would throw | Ní chaithfeadh sibhYou would not throw | An gcaithfeadh sibh?Would you throw? |
| siad (they) | ChaithfidísThey would throw | Ní chaithfidísThey would not throw | An gcaithfidís?Would they throw? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Chaithfí | Ní chaithfí | An gcaithfí? |
“Caith” 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 throw in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to throw?
The Irish for to throw is caith (pronounced “kah”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is caitheamh.
What is the verbal noun of caith?
The verbal noun of caith is caitheamh, used after ag for the continuous: ag caitheamh (throwing). The verbal adjective is caite.
How do you say caith in the past and the future?
Past: Chaith mé; negative Níor chaith mé; question Ar chaith mé?. Future: Caithfidh mé; negative Ní chaithfidh mé; question An gcaithfidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of caith?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Chaithfinn (I would throw); negative Ní chaithfinn; question An gcaithfinn?.
Does caith have more than one meaning?
Yes. Caith can mean to throw, to spend, to wear or to must, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'I must' with caith?
Use the future form: 'Caithfidh mé imeacht' means 'I must go'; for past obligation say 'B'éigean dom' or 'Chaith mé'.
How do I say how someone treated me?
Use 'caith le': 'Chaith sé go maith liom' means 'He treated me well'.
