HeyRuaHow to say “old acquaintance” in Irish
- Irish:
- seanaithne
- English:
- old acquaintance
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine
- Pronunciation:
- “SHAN-ah-nyuh” /ˈʃanˌanʲə/
Various forms
- Genitive singular:
- seanaithne, na seanaithne (e.g. cairde seanaithne, friends of long acquaintance)
What does “seanaithne” mean?
- old acquaintance
- Knowledge of someone or something that goes back a long time; long familiarity.Also: long acquaintance, long familiarity, longstanding knowledge.
“Seanaithne” with the article
Here is seanaithne after the article (an t-alt).
an tseanaithne
the old acquaintance
Feminine nouns take t before s after an
“Seanaithne” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using seanaithne, the Irish word for old acquaintance.
Tá seanaithne agam ar an bhfear sin.
I've known that man for a long time.
Bhí seanaithne acu ar a chéile.
They had known each other for years.
Tá seanaithne ag m'athair air.
My father has known him for years.
Tá seanaithne agam uirthi ón scoil.
I've known her for years, since school.
Tá seanaithne aici ar an gceantar seo.
She knows this area well from long ago.
Labhair siad mar dhaoine a raibh seanaithne acu ar a chéile.
They spoke like people who had long known each other.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Old acquaintance in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for old acquaintance?
The Irish for old acquaintance is seanaithne (pronounced “SHAN-ah-nyuh”). It’s a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce seanaithne in Irish?
Seanaithne is said like “SHAN-ah-nyuh” (IPA /ˈʃanˌanʲə/).
Does seanaithne have a plural?
No plural form is given for seanaithne in the standard. Many abstract and mass nouns in Irish have no plural.
Why does seanaithne change to sheanaithne?
After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo sheanaithne. After ár (our) it stays ár seanaithne, because s does not take eclipsis.
How is seanaithne used with a person?
Like aithne, it takes the preposition ar: tá seanaithne agam air, 'I have known him for a long time'.
