HeyRuaHow to say “to interpret” in Irish
- Irish:
- léirmhínigh
- English:
- to interpret, elucidate
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- léirmhíniú (ag léirmhíniú, interpreting)
- Verbal adjective:
- léirmhínithe
- Pronunciation:
- “LAYR-vee-nee” /ˈl̠ʲeːɾʲvʲiːnʲə/
What does “léirmhínigh” mean?
“Léirmhínigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to interpret
- To explain the meaning of something, such as a text, a law, a work of art or a dream.Also: explain, expound, construe.
1 other meaning: elucidate
- 2to elucidate
- To make something clear by explaining it in detail.Also: clarify, explicate.
“Léirmhínigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Léirmhínigh méI interpreted | Níor léirmhínigh méI did not interpret | Ar léirmhínigh mé?Did I interpret? |
| tú (you) | Léirmhínigh túYou interpreted | Níor léirmhínigh túYou did not interpret | Ar léirmhínigh tú?Did you interpret? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Léirmhínigh sé / síHe interpreted | Níor léirmhínigh sé / síHe did not interpret | Ar léirmhínigh sé / sí?Did he interpret? |
| sinn (we) | LéirmhíníomarWe interpreted | Níor léirmhíníomarWe did not interpret | Ar léirmhíníomar?Did we interpret? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Léirmhínigh sibhYou interpreted | Níor léirmhínigh sibhYou did not interpret | Ar léirmhínigh sibh?Did you interpret? |
| siad (they) | Léirmhínigh siadThey interpreted | Níor léirmhínigh siadThey did not interpret | Ar léirmhínigh siad?Did they interpret? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Léirmhíníodh | Níor léirmhíníodh | Ar léirmhíníodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | LéirmhínímI interpret | Ní léirmhínímI do not interpret | An léirmhíním?Do I interpret? |
| tú (you) | Léirmhíníonn túYou interpret | Ní léirmhíníonn túYou do not interpret | An léirmhíníonn tú?Do you interpret? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Léirmhíníonn sé / síHe interprets | Ní léirmhíníonn sé / síHe does not interpret | An léirmhíníonn sé / sí?Does he interpret? |
| sinn (we) | LéirmhínímidWe interpret | Ní léirmhínímidWe do not interpret | An léirmhínímid?Do we interpret? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Léirmhíníonn sibhYou interpret | Ní léirmhíníonn sibhYou do not interpret | An léirmhíníonn sibh?Do you interpret? |
| siad (they) | Léirmhíníonn siadThey interpret | Ní léirmhíníonn siadThey do not interpret | An léirmhíníonn siad?Do they interpret? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Léirmhínítear | Ní léirmhínítear | An léirmhínítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Léirmhíneoidh méI will interpret | Ní léirmhíneoidh méI will not interpret | An léirmhíneoidh mé?Will I interpret? |
| tú (you) | Léirmhíneoidh túYou will interpret | Ní léirmhíneoidh túYou will not interpret | An léirmhíneoidh tú?Will you interpret? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Léirmhíneoidh sé / síHe will interpret | Ní léirmhíneoidh sé / síHe will not interpret | An léirmhíneoidh sé / sí?Will he interpret? |
| sinn (we) | LéirmhíneoimidWe will interpret | Ní léirmhíneoimidWe will not interpret | An léirmhíneoimid?Will we interpret? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Léirmhíneoidh sibhYou will interpret | Ní léirmhíneoidh sibhYou will not interpret | An léirmhíneoidh sibh?Will you interpret? |
| siad (they) | Léirmhíneoidh siadThey will interpret | Ní léirmhíneoidh siadThey will not interpret | An léirmhíneoidh siad?Will they interpret? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Léirmhíneofar | Ní léirmhíneofar | An léirmhíneofar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | LéirmhíneoinnI would interpret | Ní léirmhíneoinnI would not interpret | An léirmhíneoinn?Would I interpret? |
| tú (you) | LéirmhíneofáYou would interpret | Ní léirmhíneofáYou would not interpret | An léirmhíneofá?Would you interpret? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Léirmhíneodh sé / síHe would interpret | Ní léirmhíneodh sé / síHe would not interpret | An léirmhíneodh sé / sí?Would he interpret? |
| sinn (we) | LéirmhíneoimisWe would interpret | Ní léirmhíneoimisWe would not interpret | An léirmhíneoimis?Would we interpret? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Léirmhíneodh sibhYou would interpret | Ní léirmhíneodh sibhYou would not interpret | An léirmhíneodh sibh?Would you interpret? |
| siad (they) | LéirmhíneoidísThey would interpret | Ní léirmhíneoidísThey would not interpret | An léirmhíneoidís?Would they interpret? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Léirmhíneofaí | Ní léirmhíneofaí | An léirmhíneofaí? |
“Léirmhínigh” 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 interpret in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to interpret?
The Irish for to interpret is léirmhínigh (pronounced “LAYR-vee-nee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is léirmhíniú.
What is the verbal noun of léirmhínigh?
The verbal noun of léirmhínigh is léirmhíniú, used after ag for the continuous: ag léirmhíniú (interpreting). The verbal adjective is léirmhínithe.
How do you say léirmhínigh in the past and the future?
Past: Léirmhínigh mé; negative Níor léirmhínigh mé; question Ar léirmhínigh mé?. Future: Léirmhíneoidh mé; negative Ní léirmhíneoidh mé; question An léirmhíneoidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of léirmhínigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Léirmhíneoinn (I would interpret); negative Ní léirmhíneoinn; question An léirmhíneoinn?.
Does léirmhínigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Léirmhínigh can mean to interpret or to elucidate, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'léirmhínigh' and 'mínigh'?
'Mínigh' is the everyday word for explain, while 'léirmhínigh' means to interpret or expound, often a text, law or artwork. The noun 'léirmhíniú' is common for an interpretation.
Does 'léirmhínigh' mean interpret as in translating speech?
No, an interpreter of languages is 'ateangaire' and the work is 'ateangaireacht'. 'Léirmhínigh' means to interpret the meaning of something.
