HeyRuaHow to say “to fail” in Irish
- Irish:
- mainnigh
- English:
- to fail, default
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- mainneachtain (ag mainneachtain, failing)
- Verbal adjective:
- mainnithe
- Pronunciation:
- “MAN-ee” /ˈmanʲiː/
What does “mainnigh” mean?
“Mainnigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to fail
- To fail to do something you should do, or to fail someone, especially by not keeping an obligation.Also: fail to do, neglect, let down.
“Mainnigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Mhainnigh méI failed | Níor mhainnigh méI did not fail | Ar mhainnigh mé?Did I fail? |
| tú (you) | Mhainnigh túYou failed | Níor mhainnigh túYou did not fail | Ar mhainnigh tú?Did you fail? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mhainnigh sé / síHe failed | Níor mhainnigh sé / síHe did not fail | Ar mhainnigh sé / sí?Did he fail? |
| sinn (we) | MhainníomarWe failed | Níor mhainníomarWe did not fail | Ar mhainníomar?Did we fail? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mhainnigh sibhYou failed | Níor mhainnigh sibhYou did not fail | Ar mhainnigh sibh?Did you fail? |
| siad (they) | Mhainnigh siadThey failed | Níor mhainnigh siadThey did not fail | Ar mhainnigh siad?Did they fail? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Mainníodh | Níor mainníodh | Ar mainníodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MainnímI fail | Ní mhainnímI do not fail | An mainním?Do I fail? |
| tú (you) | Mainníonn túYou fail | Ní mhainníonn túYou do not fail | An mainníonn tú?Do you fail? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mainníonn sé / síHe fails | Ní mhainníonn sé / síHe does not fail | An mainníonn sé / sí?Does he fail? |
| sinn (we) | MainnímidWe fail | Ní mhainnímidWe do not fail | An mainnímid?Do we fail? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mainníonn sibhYou fail | Ní mhainníonn sibhYou do not fail | An mainníonn sibh?Do you fail? |
| siad (they) | Mainníonn siadThey fail | Ní mhainníonn siadThey do not fail | An mainníonn siad?Do they fail? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Mainnítear | Ní mhainnítear | An mainnítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Mainneoidh méI will fail | Ní mhainneoidh méI will not fail | An mainneoidh mé?Will I fail? |
| tú (you) | Mainneoidh túYou will fail | Ní mhainneoidh túYou will not fail | An mainneoidh tú?Will you fail? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mainneoidh sé / síHe will fail | Ní mhainneoidh sé / síHe will not fail | An mainneoidh sé / sí?Will he fail? |
| sinn (we) | MainneoimidWe will fail | Ní mhainneoimidWe will not fail | An mainneoimid?Will we fail? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mainneoidh sibhYou will fail | Ní mhainneoidh sibhYou will not fail | An mainneoidh sibh?Will you fail? |
| siad (they) | Mainneoidh siadThey will fail | Ní mhainneoidh siadThey will not fail | An mainneoidh siad?Will they fail? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Mainneofar | Ní mhainneofar | An mainneofar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MhainneoinnI would fail | Ní mhainneoinnI would not fail | An mainneoinn?Would I fail? |
| tú (you) | MhainneofáYou would fail | Ní mhainneofáYou would not fail | An mainneofá?Would you fail? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mhainneodh sé / síHe would fail | Ní mhainneodh sé / síHe would not fail | An mainneodh sé / sí?Would he fail? |
| sinn (we) | MhainneoimisWe would fail | Ní mhainneoimisWe would not fail | An mainneoimis?Would we fail? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mhainneodh sibhYou would fail | Ní mhainneodh sibhYou would not fail | An mainneodh sibh?Would you fail? |
| siad (they) | MhainneoidísThey would fail | Ní mhainneoidísThey would not fail | An mainneoidís?Would they fail? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Mhainneofaí | Ní mhainneofaí | An mainneofaí? |
“Mainnigh” 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 fail in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to fail?
The Irish for to fail is mainnigh (pronounced “MAN-ee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is mainneachtain.
What is the verbal noun of mainnigh?
The verbal noun of mainnigh is mainneachtain, used after ag for the continuous: ag mainneachtain (failing). The verbal adjective is mainnithe.
How do you say mainnigh in the past and the future?
Past: Mhainnigh mé; negative Níor mhainnigh mé; question Ar mhainnigh mé?. Future: Mainneoidh mé; negative Ní mhainneoidh mé; question An mainneoidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of mainnigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Mhainneoinn (I would fail); negative Ní mhainneoinn; question An mainneoinn?.
Does mainnigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Mainnigh can mean to fail or to default, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'mainnigh' and 'teip'?
'Teip' is the everyday word for fail, as in 'theip orm'. 'Mainnigh' is more formal and is used for failing an obligation or defaulting, as in 'mhainnigh sé ar an iasacht'.
Which preposition does 'mainnigh' take?
It usually takes 'ar': 'mainnigh ar íocaíocht' means to default on a payment.
