HeyRuaHow to say “to identify” in Irish
- Irish:
- sainaithin
- English:
- to identify
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- sainaithint (ag sainaithint, identifying)
- Verbal adjective:
- sainaitheanta
- Pronunciation:
- “SAN-ah-hin” /ˈsˠanʲahənʲ/
What does “sainaithin” mean?
- to identify
- To recognise or establish exactly what or who something is, picking it out specifically.Also: pinpoint, single out, distinguish.
“Sainaithin” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Shainaithin méI identified | Níor shainaithin méI did not identify | Ar shainaithin mé?Did I identify? |
| tú (you) | Shainaithin túYou identified | Níor shainaithin túYou did not identify | Ar shainaithin tú?Did you identify? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Shainaithin sé / síHe identified | Níor shainaithin sé / síHe did not identify | Ar shainaithin sé / sí?Did he identify? |
| sinn (we) | ShainaithníomarWe identified | Níor shainaithníomarWe did not identify | Ar shainaithníomar?Did we identify? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Shainaithin sibhYou identified | Níor shainaithin sibhYou did not identify | Ar shainaithin sibh?Did you identify? |
| siad (they) | Shainaithin siadThey identified | Níor shainaithin siadThey did not identify | Ar shainaithin siad?Did they identify? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Sainaithníodh | Níor sainaithníodh | Ar sainaithníodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SainaithnímI identify | Ní shainaithnímI do not identify | An sainaithním?Do I identify? |
| tú (you) | Sainaithníonn túYou identify | Ní shainaithníonn túYou do not identify | An sainaithníonn tú?Do you identify? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Sainaithníonn sé / síHe identifies | Ní shainaithníonn sé / síHe does not identify | An sainaithníonn sé / sí?Does he identify? |
| sinn (we) | SainaithnímidWe identify | Ní shainaithnímidWe do not identify | An sainaithnímid?Do we identify? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Sainaithníonn sibhYou identify | Ní shainaithníonn sibhYou do not identify | An sainaithníonn sibh?Do you identify? |
| siad (they) | Sainaithníonn siadThey identify | Ní shainaithníonn siadThey do not identify | An sainaithníonn siad?Do they identify? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Sainaithnítear | Ní shainaithnítear | An sainaithnítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Sainaithneoidh méI will identify | Ní shainaithneoidh méI will not identify | An sainaithneoidh mé?Will I identify? |
| tú (you) | Sainaithneoidh túYou will identify | Ní shainaithneoidh túYou will not identify | An sainaithneoidh tú?Will you identify? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Sainaithneoidh sé / síHe will identify | Ní shainaithneoidh sé / síHe will not identify | An sainaithneoidh sé / sí?Will he identify? |
| sinn (we) | SainaithneoimidWe will identify | Ní shainaithneoimidWe will not identify | An sainaithneoimid?Will we identify? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Sainaithneoidh sibhYou will identify | Ní shainaithneoidh sibhYou will not identify | An sainaithneoidh sibh?Will you identify? |
| siad (they) | Sainaithneoidh siadThey will identify | Ní shainaithneoidh siadThey will not identify | An sainaithneoidh siad?Will they identify? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Sainaithneofar | Ní shainaithneofar | An sainaithneofar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ShainaithneoinnI would identify | Ní shainaithneoinnI would not identify | An sainaithneoinn?Would I identify? |
| tú (you) | ShainaithneofáYou would identify | Ní shainaithneofáYou would not identify | An sainaithneofá?Would you identify? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Shainaithneodh sé / síHe would identify | Ní shainaithneodh sé / síHe would not identify | An sainaithneodh sé / sí?Would he identify? |
| sinn (we) | ShainaithneoimisWe would identify | Ní shainaithneoimisWe would not identify | An sainaithneoimis?Would we identify? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Shainaithneodh sibhYou would identify | Ní shainaithneodh sibhYou would not identify | An sainaithneodh sibh?Would you identify? |
| siad (they) | ShainaithneoidísThey would identify | Ní shainaithneoidísThey would not identify | An sainaithneoidís?Would they identify? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Shainaithneofaí | Ní shainaithneofaí | An sainaithneofaí? |
“Sainaithin” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Shainaithin an póilín an gadaí ón ngrianghraf.
The policeman identified the thief from the photograph.
Sainaithníonn an tuarascáil na fadhbanna is mó.
The report identifies the biggest problems.
Sainaithneoidh an coiste na riachtanais go luath.
The committee will identify the needs soon.
Shainaithneodh saineolaí an galar gan stró.
An expert would identify the disease easily.
Níor shainaithin siad cúis na timpiste.
They did not identify the cause of the accident.
Ar shainaithin tú an t-éan sin?
Did you identify that bird?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To identify in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to identify?
The Irish for to identify is sainaithin (pronounced “SAN-ah-hin”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is sainaithint.
What is the verbal noun of sainaithin?
The verbal noun of sainaithin is sainaithint, used after ag for the continuous: ag sainaithint (identifying). The verbal adjective is sainaitheanta.
How do you say sainaithin in the past and the future?
Past: Shainaithin mé; negative Níor shainaithin mé; question Ar shainaithin mé?. Future: Sainaithneoidh mé; negative Ní shainaithneoidh mé; question An sainaithneoidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of sainaithin?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Shainaithneoinn (I would identify); negative Ní shainaithneoinn; question An sainaithneoinn?.
How is 'sainaithin' different from 'aithin'?
'Aithin' means to recognise or know someone, while 'sainaithin' (from 'sain-', specific) means to identify something precisely, often in formal or technical writing.
