HeyRuaHow to say “to keep” in Irish
- Irish:
- coinnigh
- English:
- to keep, hold, detain, observe
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- coinneáil (ag coinneáil, keeping)
- Verbal adjective:
- coinnithe
- Pronunciation:
- “KIN-ig” /ˈkɪnʲə/
What does “coinnigh” mean?
“Coinnigh” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to keep
- To keep something or continue to have it, not giving it away or losing it.Also: retain, hold on to, save.
3 other meanings: hold or detain or observe
- 2to hold
- To hold or keep something or someone in a certain position or state.Also: keep, maintain.
- 3to detain
- To keep a person somewhere against their will, for example in custody.Also: hold, keep back.
- 4to observe
- To keep or observe a rule, custom or feast day.Also: keep, celebrate.
Other Irish verbs for to keep: coimeád (keep)
“Coinnigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Choinnigh méI kept | Níor choinnigh méI did not keep | Ar choinnigh mé?Did I keep? |
| tú (you) | Choinnigh túYou kept | Níor choinnigh túYou did not keep | Ar choinnigh tú?Did you keep? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Choinnigh sé / síHe kept | Níor choinnigh sé / síHe did not keep | Ar choinnigh sé / sí?Did he keep? |
| sinn (we) | ChoinníomarWe kept | Níor choinníomarWe did not keep | Ar choinníomar?Did we keep? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Choinnigh sibhYou kept | Níor choinnigh sibhYou did not keep | Ar choinnigh sibh?Did you keep? |
| siad (they) | Choinnigh siadThey kept | Níor choinnigh siadThey did not keep | Ar choinnigh siad?Did they keep? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Coinníodh | Níor coinníodh | Ar coinníodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CoinnímI keep | Ní choinnímI do not keep | An gcoinním?Do I keep? |
| tú (you) | Coinníonn túYou keep | Ní choinníonn túYou do not keep | An gcoinníonn tú?Do you keep? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Coinníonn sé / síHe keeps | Ní choinníonn sé / síHe does not keep | An gcoinníonn sé / sí?Does he keep? |
| sinn (we) | CoinnímidWe keep | Ní choinnímidWe do not keep | An gcoinnímid?Do we keep? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Coinníonn sibhYou keep | Ní choinníonn sibhYou do not keep | An gcoinníonn sibh?Do you keep? |
| siad (they) | Coinníonn siadThey keep | Ní choinníonn siadThey do not keep | An gcoinníonn siad?Do they keep? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Coinnítear | Ní choinnítear | An gcoinnítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Coinneoidh méI will keep | Ní choinneoidh méI will not keep | An gcoinneoidh mé?Will I keep? |
| tú (you) | Coinneoidh túYou will keep | Ní choinneoidh túYou will not keep | An gcoinneoidh tú?Will you keep? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Coinneoidh sé / síHe will keep | Ní choinneoidh sé / síHe will not keep | An gcoinneoidh sé / sí?Will he keep? |
| sinn (we) | CoinneoimidWe will keep | Ní choinneoimidWe will not keep | An gcoinneoimid?Will we keep? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Coinneoidh sibhYou will keep | Ní choinneoidh sibhYou will not keep | An gcoinneoidh sibh?Will you keep? |
| siad (they) | Coinneoidh siadThey will keep | Ní choinneoidh siadThey will not keep | An gcoinneoidh siad?Will they keep? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Coinneofar | Ní choinneofar | An gcoinneofar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChoinneoinnI would keep | Ní choinneoinnI would not keep | An gcoinneoinn?Would I keep? |
| tú (you) | ChoinneofáYou would keep | Ní choinneofáYou would not keep | An gcoinneofá?Would you keep? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Choinneodh sé / síHe would keep | Ní choinneodh sé / síHe would not keep | An gcoinneodh sé / sí?Would he keep? |
| sinn (we) | ChoinneoimisWe would keep | Ní choinneoimisWe would not keep | An gcoinneoimis?Would we keep? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Choinneodh sibhYou would keep | Ní choinneodh sibhYou would not keep | An gcoinneodh sibh?Would you keep? |
| siad (they) | ChoinneoidísThey would keep | Ní choinneoidísThey would not keep | An gcoinneoidís?Would they keep? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Choinneofaí | Ní choinneofaí | An gcoinneofaí? |
“Coinnigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Choinnigh mé na páipéir ar chúinne an bhoird.
I kept the papers on the corner of the table.
Coinníonn sí a cuid airgid sa bhanc.
She keeps her money in the bank.
Coinneoidh mé suíochán duit.
I'll keep a seat for you.
Choinneodh sé rún dá n-iarrfá air é.
He would keep a secret if you asked him.
Níor choinnigh siad a ngealltanas.
They didn't keep their promise.
Ar choinnigh tú an ticéad?
Did you keep the ticket?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To keep in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to keep?
The Irish for to keep is coinnigh (pronounced “KIN-ig”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is coinneáil.
What is the verbal noun of coinnigh?
The verbal noun of coinnigh is coinneáil, used after ag for the continuous: ag coinneáil (keeping). The verbal adjective is coinnithe.
How do you say coinnigh in the past and the future?
Past: Choinnigh mé; negative Níor choinnigh mé; question Ar choinnigh mé?. Future: Coinneoidh mé; negative Ní choinneoidh mé; question An gcoinneoidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of coinnigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Choinneoinn (I would keep); negative Ní choinneoinn; question An gcoinneoinn?.
Does coinnigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Coinnigh can mean to keep, to hold, to detain or to observe, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'keep an eye on' in Irish?
Use 'coinnigh súil ar', for example 'Coinnigh súil ar an leanbh', keep an eye on the child.
How do I say 'keep going' with this verb?
Say 'coinnigh ort' to one person, or 'coinnígí oraibh' to several people.
