HeyRuaHow to say “while” in Irish
- Irish:
- tamall
- English:
- while, distance
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “TAM-ul” /ˈt̪ˠamˠəl̪ˠ/
- Plural:
- tamaill (whiles)
- Genitive singular:
- tamaill, an tamaill (e.g. i gceann tamaill, in a while)
- Genitive plural:
- tamall, na dtamall (e.g. fad na dtamall, the length of the periods)
What does “tamall” mean?
“Tamall” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- while
- An indefinite period of time, usually fairly short.Also: spell, period, some time, bit.
1 other meaning: distance
- 2distance
- A certain distance or stretch of space, as in 'tamall ón teach', some distance from the house.Also: stretch, way.
Other Irish words for while: seal (spell), scaitheamh (while), sealad (spell)
“Tamall” with the article
The plural of while in Irish is tamaill. Here is tamall after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Tamall” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using tamall, the Irish word for while.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
While in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for while?
The Irish for while is tamall (pronounced “TAM-ul”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is tamaill. Depending on context it can also mean distance.
How do you pronounce tamall in Irish?
Tamall is said like “TAM-ul” (IPA /ˈt̪ˠamˠəl̪ˠ/).
What is the plural of while in Irish?
The plural of tamall is tamaill; with the article, na tamaill means “the whiles”. The genitive plural is tamall, as in fad na dtamall (the length of the periods).
Does tamall have more than one meaning?
Yes. Tamall can mean while or distance, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does tamall change to thamall or dtamall?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) tamall becomes mo thamall (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár dtamall (eclipsis).
What is the difference between 'tamall' and 'seal'?
Both mean a while; 'seal' is very common in Ulster and Connacht, while 'tamall' is used everywhere, e.g. 'seal beag' or 'tamall beag', a little while.
How do I say 'a while ago'?
Say 'tamall ó shin', e.g. 'Bhí sé anseo tamall ó shin', he was here a while ago.
