dabhach fholctha
feminine
The English word bathtub is translated into Irish as dabhach fholctha. Wiktionary also lists tobán folctha.
Meaning: large container in which a person may bathe (noun)
Ways to say it
| Irish | Note |
|---|---|
| dabhach fholctha | feminine |
| tobán folctha | masculine |
The term refers to a large container in which a person may bathe.
What does it mean word for word?
The term dabhach fholctha is composed of dabhach (tub/vat) and fholctha (of bathing).
Which one should you use?
Dabhach fholctha is feminine, whereas tobán folctha is masculine.
Did you know?
- The word tobán is a linguistic mirror of the English word 'tub', having been borrowed from Middle English into Irish centuries ago.
- The word dabhach survives in Irish place names, often indicating a place where water gathered in a natural basin or a large tub was used for a specific craft.
- While tobán folctha is common today, the older word dabhach originally referred to much larger vats used in industrial processes like tanning or brewing.
Examples in context
- Tá an dabhach fholctha anseo.The bathtub is here.
- Níl an dabhach fholctha ró fhada.The bathtub is not too long.
Example conversation
Siobhán and Cathal are discussing cleaning the bathroom.
- SiobhánCathal, an bhfuil an dabhach fholctha glan?Cathal, is the bathtub clean?
- CathalNíl sé glan go leor fós.It is not clean enough yet.
- SiobhánGlaine an dabhach fholctha anois, le do bháid.Clean the bathtub now, please.
- CathalDéinméim é láithreach, a Siobhán.I'll do it immediately, Siobhán.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bathtub” translations and entries dabhach fholctha, tobán folctha, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dabhach, tobán, CC BY-SA 4.0.
