HeyRuaHow to say “to turn” in Irish
- Irish:
- tiontaigh
- English:
- to turn, convert, translate
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- tiontú (ag tiontú, turning)
- Verbal adjective:
- tiontaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “TYUN-tee” /ˈtʲuːn̪ˠt̪ˠiː/
What does “tiontaigh” mean?
“Tiontaigh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to turn
- To turn or change direction, or to turn something round or over.Also: turn round, turn over, rotate.
“Tiontaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Thiontaigh méI turned | Níor thiontaigh méI did not turn | Ar thiontaigh mé?Did I turn? |
| tú (you) | Thiontaigh túYou turned | Níor thiontaigh túYou did not turn | Ar thiontaigh tú?Did you turn? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Thiontaigh sé / síHe turned | Níor thiontaigh sé / síHe did not turn | Ar thiontaigh sé / sí?Did he turn? |
| sinn (we) | ThiontaíomarWe turned | Níor thiontaíomarWe did not turn | Ar thiontaíomar?Did we turn? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Thiontaigh sibhYou turned | Níor thiontaigh sibhYou did not turn | Ar thiontaigh sibh?Did you turn? |
| siad (they) | Thiontaigh siadThey turned | Níor thiontaigh siadThey did not turn | Ar thiontaigh siad?Did they turn? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Tiontaíodh | Níor tiontaíodh | Ar tiontaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | TiontaímI turn | Ní thiontaímI do not turn | An dtiontaím?Do I turn? |
| tú (you) | Tiontaíonn túYou turn | Ní thiontaíonn túYou do not turn | An dtiontaíonn tú?Do you turn? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Tiontaíonn sé / síHe turns | Ní thiontaíonn sé / síHe does not turn | An dtiontaíonn sé / sí?Does he turn? |
| sinn (we) | TiontaímidWe turn | Ní thiontaímidWe do not turn | An dtiontaímid?Do we turn? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Tiontaíonn sibhYou turn | Ní thiontaíonn sibhYou do not turn | An dtiontaíonn sibh?Do you turn? |
| siad (they) | Tiontaíonn siadThey turn | Ní thiontaíonn siadThey do not turn | An dtiontaíonn siad?Do they turn? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Tiontaítear | Ní thiontaítear | An dtiontaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Tiontóidh méI will turn | Ní thiontóidh méI will not turn | An dtiontóidh mé?Will I turn? |
| tú (you) | Tiontóidh túYou will turn | Ní thiontóidh túYou will not turn | An dtiontóidh tú?Will you turn? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Tiontóidh sé / síHe will turn | Ní thiontóidh sé / síHe will not turn | An dtiontóidh sé / sí?Will he turn? |
| sinn (we) | TiontóimidWe will turn | Ní thiontóimidWe will not turn | An dtiontóimid?Will we turn? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Tiontóidh sibhYou will turn | Ní thiontóidh sibhYou will not turn | An dtiontóidh sibh?Will you turn? |
| siad (they) | Tiontóidh siadThey will turn | Ní thiontóidh siadThey will not turn | An dtiontóidh siad?Will they turn? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Tiontófar | Ní thiontófar | An dtiontófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ThiontóinnI would turn | Ní thiontóinnI would not turn | An dtiontóinn?Would I turn? |
| tú (you) | ThiontófáYou would turn | Ní thiontófáYou would not turn | An dtiontófá?Would you turn? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Thiontódh sé / síHe would turn | Ní thiontódh sé / síHe would not turn | An dtiontódh sé / sí?Would he turn? |
| sinn (we) | ThiontóimisWe would turn | Ní thiontóimisWe would not turn | An dtiontóimis?Would we turn? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Thiontódh sibhYou would turn | Ní thiontódh sibhYou would not turn | An dtiontódh sibh?Would you turn? |
| siad (they) | ThiontóidísThey would turn | Ní thiontóidísThey would not turn | An dtiontóidís?Would they turn? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Thiontófaí | Ní thiontófaí | An dtiontófaí? |
“Tiontaigh” 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 turn in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to turn?
The Irish for to turn is tiontaigh (pronounced “TYUN-tee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is tiontú.
What is the verbal noun of tiontaigh?
The verbal noun of tiontaigh is tiontú, used after ag for the continuous: ag tiontú (turning). The verbal adjective is tiontaithe.
How do you say tiontaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Thiontaigh mé; negative Níor thiontaigh mé; question Ar thiontaigh mé?. Future: Tiontóidh mé; negative Ní thiontóidh mé; question An dtiontóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of tiontaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Thiontóinn (I would turn); negative Ní thiontóinn; question An dtiontóinn?.
Does tiontaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Tiontaigh can mean to turn, to convert or to translate, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'tiontaigh', 'iompaigh' and 'cas'?
All can mean 'turn'; 'tiontaigh' is the Munster form and 'iompaigh' the Connacht and Ulster form, while 'cas' is common everywhere for turning, as in 'cas ar chlé'.
How do I say 'translate into Irish' with this verb?
Use 'go': 'tiontaigh go Gaeilge é', translate it into Irish, though 'aistrigh' is more usual in standard writing.
