Trí (through)

The preposition trí primarily means “through”. Like many Irish prepositions, it causes initial mutations on the following noun and combines with pronouns to form a unique set of conjugated forms. It has several common variants and a range of uses beyond its literal meaning.

Grammatically, trí is followed by the dative case, though in modern Irish this is mainly visible through the initial mutations it causes on the following noun.

Forms and Variants

The standard form is trí, but you will also encounter several other forms in writing and speech.

• thrí: A common lenited form.
• tré / thré: Alternative forms, often found in older texts or certain dialects.
• fríd: The typical form used in Ulster Irish.

Initial Mutations

The mutation caused by trí depends on whether it is followed by an article.

Without an Article

When trí is followed directly by a noun, it causes lenition.

• trí fhuinneoig - through a window
• trí choill - through a forest

With the Singular Article an

When trí is followed by the singular article an, it becomes tríd an and causes eclipsis.

• tríd an bhfuinneoig - through the window
• tríd an gcathair - through the city

With the Plural Article na

When followed by the plural article na, the form is trí na and it causes no mutation.

• trí na fuinneoga - through the windows
• trí na cathracha - through the cities

Conjugated and Possessive Forms

Like most prepositions, trí has a set of conjugated forms used when the object is a pronoun.

Conjugated Forms (Prepositional Pronouns)

With Possessive Adjectives

Here are the combined forms of trí with possessive adjectives (like “my”, “your”, “our”).

Usage and Meanings

Spatial (Through)

This is the most common meaning, referring to movement into and out of a space or opening. For open terrain, trasna (across) is often preferred.

• Chuaigh sé isteach trí fhuinneoig. - He went in through a window.
• Chuaigh an piléar trína gualainn. - The bullet went through her shoulder.

Compare with trasna:

• Shiúil siad trasna na páirce. - They walked across the field.

Temporal (During)

trí can indicate duration, meaning “through” or “during” a period of time.

• d’fhan siad ag caint tríd an oíche - they stayed up talking through the night
• tríd an scéal - during the story

Among or Between

It can mean “among” or “between” when something is mixed in with a group.

• Tá bó amháin trí na caorigh. - There is one cow among the sheep.

Mixing With

This extends the idea of “among” to mean “mixed with”.

• Cuir ola tríd. - Mix it with oil.
• beoir trí fhíon - beer with wine

Cause or Means

trí can express the cause of something (“because of”) or the means by which something is done (“by means of”).

• Trí bháisteach a bhí an féar fliuch. - The grass was wet because of the rain.
• Tharla sé tríomsa. - It happened because of me.
• D’fhoghlaim sé é tríd é a dhéanamh. - He learned it by doing it.
• múineadh trí Ghaeilge - to teach through (by means of) Irish

Idiomatic Phrases

trí appears in several common idioms.

• trí thine - on fire
• trína chéile - confused, mixed up, upset
• trí gach scéal - in summary, all in all
• tríd síos - throughout

Advanced Forms

Question Words

To ask “through whom?” or “through what?”, trí combines with question words. These constructions often require an indirect relative clause.

• Through whom…?: cé tríd...?
• Through what…?: cad tríd...? / cé tríd...? / cá tríd...?

Relative Clauses

trí combines with the indirect relative particle a and the copula to mean “through which”.