HeyRuaHow to say “to corner” in Irish
- Irish:
- sáinnigh
- English:
- to corner, checkmate, put in a fix
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- sáinniú (ag sáinniú, cornering)
- Verbal adjective:
- sáinnithe
- Pronunciation:
- “SAWN-ee” /ˈsˠaːn̠ʲiː/
What does “sáinnigh” mean?
“Sáinnigh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to corner
- To trap a person or animal in a corner or tight place so they cannot escape.Also: trap, hem in, pin down.
2 other meanings: checkmate or put in a fix
- 2to checkmate
- In chess, to put the opponent's king in check so it cannot escape.Also: mate.
- 3to put in a fix
- To put someone in a difficult position or dilemma.Also: put on the spot, nonplus.
“Sáinnigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Sháinnigh méI cornered | Níor sháinnigh méI did not corner | Ar sháinnigh mé?Did I corner? |
| tú (you) | Sháinnigh túYou cornered | Níor sháinnigh túYou did not corner | Ar sháinnigh tú?Did you corner? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Sháinnigh sé / síHe cornered | Níor sháinnigh sé / síHe did not corner | Ar sháinnigh sé / sí?Did he corner? |
| sinn (we) | SháinníomarWe cornered | Níor sháinníomarWe did not corner | Ar sháinníomar?Did we corner? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Sháinnigh sibhYou cornered | Níor sháinnigh sibhYou did not corner | Ar sháinnigh sibh?Did you corner? |
| siad (they) | Sháinnigh siadThey cornered | Níor sháinnigh siadThey did not corner | Ar sháinnigh siad?Did they corner? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Sáinníodh | Níor sáinníodh | Ar sáinníodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SáinnímI corner | Ní sháinnímI do not corner | An sáinním?Do I corner? |
| tú (you) | Sáinníonn túYou corner | Ní sháinníonn túYou do not corner | An sáinníonn tú?Do you corner? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Sáinníonn sé / síHe corners | Ní sháinníonn sé / síHe does not corner | An sáinníonn sé / sí?Does he corner? |
| sinn (we) | SáinnímidWe corner | Ní sháinnímidWe do not corner | An sáinnímid?Do we corner? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Sáinníonn sibhYou corner | Ní sháinníonn sibhYou do not corner | An sáinníonn sibh?Do you corner? |
| siad (they) | Sáinníonn siadThey corner | Ní sháinníonn siadThey do not corner | An sáinníonn siad?Do they corner? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Sáinnítear | Ní sháinnítear | An sáinnítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Sáinneoidh méI will corner | Ní sháinneoidh méI will not corner | An sáinneoidh mé?Will I corner? |
| tú (you) | Sáinneoidh túYou will corner | Ní sháinneoidh túYou will not corner | An sáinneoidh tú?Will you corner? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Sáinneoidh sé / síHe will corner | Ní sháinneoidh sé / síHe will not corner | An sáinneoidh sé / sí?Will he corner? |
| sinn (we) | SáinneoimidWe will corner | Ní sháinneoimidWe will not corner | An sáinneoimid?Will we corner? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Sáinneoidh sibhYou will corner | Ní sháinneoidh sibhYou will not corner | An sáinneoidh sibh?Will you corner? |
| siad (they) | Sáinneoidh siadThey will corner | Ní sháinneoidh siadThey will not corner | An sáinneoidh siad?Will they corner? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Sáinneofar | Ní sháinneofar | An sáinneofar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SháinneoinnI would corner | Ní sháinneoinnI would not corner | An sáinneoinn?Would I corner? |
| tú (you) | SháinneofáYou would corner | Ní sháinneofáYou would not corner | An sáinneofá?Would you corner? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Sháinneodh sé / síHe would corner | Ní sháinneodh sé / síHe would not corner | An sáinneodh sé / sí?Would he corner? |
| sinn (we) | SháinneoimisWe would corner | Ní sháinneoimisWe would not corner | An sáinneoimis?Would we corner? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Sháinneodh sibhYou would corner | Ní sháinneodh sibhYou would not corner | An sáinneodh sibh?Would you corner? |
| siad (they) | SháinneoidísThey would corner | Ní sháinneoidísThey would not corner | An sáinneoidís?Would they corner? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Sháinneofaí | Ní sháinneofaí | An sáinneofaí? |
“Sáinnigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Sháinnigh an madra an cat sa chlós.
The dog cornered the cat in the yard.
Sáinníonn na gardaí an gadaí i gcónaí.
The guards always corner the thief.
Sáinneoidh mé do rí sa chéad bheart eile.
I will checkmate your king in the next move.
Sháinneodh an cheist sin aon pholaiteoir.
That question would put any politician on the spot.
Níor sháinnigh siad an sionnach ar chor ar bith.
They didn't corner the fox at all.
Ar sáinníodh na caoirigh sa ghort?
Were the sheep cornered in the field?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To corner in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to corner?
The Irish for to corner is sáinnigh (pronounced “SAWN-ee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is sáinniú.
What is the verbal noun of sáinnigh?
The verbal noun of sáinnigh is sáinniú, used after ag for the continuous: ag sáinniú (cornering). The verbal adjective is sáinnithe.
How do you say sáinnigh in the past and the future?
Past: Sháinnigh mé; negative Níor sháinnigh mé; question Ar sháinnigh mé?. Future: Sáinneoidh mé; negative Ní sháinneoidh mé; question An sáinneoidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of sáinnigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Sháinneoinn (I would corner); negative Ní sháinneoinn; question An sáinneoinn?.
Does sáinnigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Sáinnigh can mean to corner, to checkmate or to put in a fix, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the noun related to 'sáinnigh'?
It comes from 'sáinn', a corner, trap or fix; 'i sáinn' means in a tight spot, and 'sáinn' is also checkmate in chess.
