HeyRuaHow to say “to understand” in Irish
- Irish:
- tuig
- English:
- to understand, realize, sympathize with
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- tuiscint (ag tuiscint, understanding)
- Verbal adjective:
- tuigthe
- Pronunciation:
- “tig” /t̪ˠɪɟ/
What does “tuig” mean?
“Tuig” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to understand
- To grasp the meaning of something said, written or done.Also: comprehend, follow, get, make out.
2 other meanings: realize or sympathize with
- 2to realize
- To become aware of or know that something is the case.Also: know, be aware, see.
- 3to sympathize with
- To understand how someone feels or why they act as they do.Also: understand, appreciate.
“Tuig” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Thuig méI understood | Níor thuig méI did not understand | Ar thuig mé?Did I understand? |
| tú (you) | Thuig túYou understood | Níor thuig túYou did not understand | Ar thuig tú?Did you understand? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Thuig sé / síHe understood | Níor thuig sé / síHe did not understand | Ar thuig sé / sí?Did he understand? |
| sinn (we) | ThuigeamarWe understood | Níor thuigeamarWe did not understand | Ar thuigeamar?Did we understand? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Thuig sibhYou understood | Níor thuig sibhYou did not understand | Ar thuig sibh?Did you understand? |
| siad (they) | Thuig siadThey understood | Níor thuig siadThey did not understand | Ar thuig siad?Did they understand? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Tuigeadh | Níor tuigeadh | Ar tuigeadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | TuigimI understand | Ní thuigimI do not understand | An dtuigim?Do I understand? |
| tú (you) | Tuigeann túYou understand | Ní thuigeann túYou do not understand | An dtuigeann tú?Do you understand? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Tuigeann sé / síHe understands | Ní thuigeann sé / síHe does not understand | An dtuigeann sé / sí?Does he understand? |
| sinn (we) | TuigimidWe understand | Ní thuigimidWe do not understand | An dtuigimid?Do we understand? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Tuigeann sibhYou understand | Ní thuigeann sibhYou do not understand | An dtuigeann sibh?Do you understand? |
| siad (they) | Tuigeann siadThey understand | Ní thuigeann siadThey do not understand | An dtuigeann siad?Do they understand? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Tuigtear | Ní thuigtear | An dtuigtear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Tuigfidh méI will understand | Ní thuigfidh méI will not understand | An dtuigfidh mé?Will I understand? |
| tú (you) | Tuigfidh túYou will understand | Ní thuigfidh túYou will not understand | An dtuigfidh tú?Will you understand? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Tuigfidh sé / síHe will understand | Ní thuigfidh sé / síHe will not understand | An dtuigfidh sé / sí?Will he understand? |
| sinn (we) | TuigfimidWe will understand | Ní thuigfimidWe will not understand | An dtuigfimid?Will we understand? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Tuigfidh sibhYou will understand | Ní thuigfidh sibhYou will not understand | An dtuigfidh sibh?Will you understand? |
| siad (they) | Tuigfidh siadThey will understand | Ní thuigfidh siadThey will not understand | An dtuigfidh siad?Will they understand? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Tuigfear | Ní thuigfear | An dtuigfear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ThuigfinnI would understand | Ní thuigfinnI would not understand | An dtuigfinn?Would I understand? |
| tú (you) | ThuigfeáYou would understand | Ní thuigfeáYou would not understand | An dtuigfeá?Would you understand? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Thuigfeadh sé / síHe would understand | Ní thuigfeadh sé / síHe would not understand | An dtuigfeadh sé / sí?Would he understand? |
| sinn (we) | ThuigfimisWe would understand | Ní thuigfimisWe would not understand | An dtuigfimis?Would we understand? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Thuigfeadh sibhYou would understand | Ní thuigfeadh sibhYou would not understand | An dtuigfeadh sibh?Would you understand? |
| siad (they) | ThuigfidísThey would understand | Ní thuigfidísThey would not understand | An dtuigfidís?Would they understand? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Thuigfí | Ní thuigfí | An dtuigfí? |
“Tuig” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Níor thuig mé gach focal ach thuig mé an scéal.
I didn't understand every word but I understood the story.
Tuigeann sí Fraincis go maith.
She understands French well.
Tuigfidh tú níos fearr amárach é.
You will understand it better tomorrow.
Thuigfeadh páiste an cheist sin.
A child would understand that question.
Ní thuigim cad atá i gceist agat.
I don't understand what you mean.
An dtuigeann tú an múinteoir?
Do you understand the teacher?
Phrases with tuig: Tuigim (I understand), Ní thuigim (I don't understand)
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
Phrases with “tuig”
To understand in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to understand?
The Irish for to understand is tuig (pronounced “tig”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is tuiscint.
What is the verbal noun of tuig?
The verbal noun of tuig is tuiscint, used after ag for the continuous: ag tuiscint (understanding). The verbal adjective is tuigthe.
How do you say tuig in the past and the future?
Past: Thuig mé; negative Níor thuig mé; question Ar thuig mé?. Future: Tuigfidh mé; negative Ní thuigfidh mé; question An dtuigfidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of tuig?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Thuigfinn (I would understand); negative Ní thuigfinn; question An dtuigfinn?.
Does tuig have more than one meaning?
Yes. Tuig can mean to understand, to realize or to sympathize with, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'I don't understand' in Irish?
Say 'Ní thuigim.' To ask someone, say 'An dtuigeann tú?'
What does 'tuigim duit' mean?
'Tuigim duit' means 'I sympathize with you' or 'I know how you feel', using the preposition 'do'.
