HeyRuaHow to say “to play” in Irish
- Irish:
- seinn
- English:
- to play, sing
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- seinm (ag seinm, playing)
- Verbal adjective:
- seinnte
- Pronunciation:
- “shin” /ʃiɲ/
What does “seinn” mean?
“Seinn” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to play
- To make music on a musical instrument, or to perform a piece of music.Also: play music, perform, play an instrument.
2 other meanings: sing
- 2to play
- To make a recording, such as a song or a CD, play on a machine.Also: play a recording, play back.
- 3to sing
- Of birds, to sing or warble.Also: warble, chirp.
Other Irish verbs for to play: imir (play)
“Seinn” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Sheinn méI played | Níor sheinn méI did not play | Ar sheinn mé?Did I play? |
| tú (you) | Sheinn túYou played | Níor sheinn túYou did not play | Ar sheinn tú?Did you play? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Sheinn sé / síHe played | Níor sheinn sé / síHe did not play | Ar sheinn sé / sí?Did he play? |
| sinn (we) | SheinneamarWe played | Níor sheinneamarWe did not play | Ar sheinneamar?Did we play? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Sheinn sibhYou played | Níor sheinn sibhYou did not play | Ar sheinn sibh?Did you play? |
| siad (they) | Sheinn siadThey played | Níor sheinn siadThey did not play | Ar sheinn siad?Did they play? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Seinneadh | Níor seinneadh | Ar seinneadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SeinnimI play | Ní sheinnimI do not play | An seinnim?Do I play? |
| tú (you) | Seinneann túYou play | Ní sheinneann túYou do not play | An seinneann tú?Do you play? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Seinneann sé / síHe plays | Ní sheinneann sé / síHe does not play | An seinneann sé / sí?Does he play? |
| sinn (we) | SeinnimidWe play | Ní sheinnimidWe do not play | An seinnimid?Do we play? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Seinneann sibhYou play | Ní sheinneann sibhYou do not play | An seinneann sibh?Do you play? |
| siad (they) | Seinneann siadThey play | Ní sheinneann siadThey do not play | An seinneann siad?Do they play? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Seinntear | Ní sheinntear | An seinntear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Seinnfidh méI will play | Ní sheinnfidh méI will not play | An seinnfidh mé?Will I play? |
| tú (you) | Seinnfidh túYou will play | Ní sheinnfidh túYou will not play | An seinnfidh tú?Will you play? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Seinnfidh sé / síHe will play | Ní sheinnfidh sé / síHe will not play | An seinnfidh sé / sí?Will he play? |
| sinn (we) | SeinnfimidWe will play | Ní sheinnfimidWe will not play | An seinnfimid?Will we play? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Seinnfidh sibhYou will play | Ní sheinnfidh sibhYou will not play | An seinnfidh sibh?Will you play? |
| siad (they) | Seinnfidh siadThey will play | Ní sheinnfidh siadThey will not play | An seinnfidh siad?Will they play? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Seinnfear | Ní sheinnfear | An seinnfear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SheinnfinnI would play | Ní sheinnfinnI would not play | An seinnfinn?Would I play? |
| tú (you) | SheinnfeáYou would play | Ní sheinnfeáYou would not play | An seinnfeá?Would you play? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Sheinnfeadh sé / síHe would play | Ní sheinnfeadh sé / síHe would not play | An seinnfeadh sé / sí?Would he play? |
| sinn (we) | SheinnfimisWe would play | Ní sheinnfimisWe would not play | An seinnfimis?Would we play? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Sheinnfeadh sibhYou would play | Ní sheinnfeadh sibhYou would not play | An seinnfeadh sibh?Would you play? |
| siad (they) | SheinnfidísThey would play | Ní sheinnfidísThey would not play | An seinnfidís?Would they play? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Sheinnfí | Ní sheinnfí | An seinnfí? |
“Seinn” 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 play in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to play?
The Irish for to play is seinn (pronounced “shin”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is seinm.
What is the verbal noun of seinn?
The verbal noun of seinn is seinm, used after ag for the continuous: ag seinm (playing). The verbal adjective is seinnte.
How do you say seinn in the past and the future?
Past: Sheinn mé; negative Níor sheinn mé; question Ar sheinn mé?. Future: Seinnfidh mé; negative Ní sheinnfidh mé; question An seinnfidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of seinn?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Sheinnfinn (I would play); negative Ní sheinnfinn; question An seinnfinn?.
Does seinn have more than one meaning?
Yes. Seinn can mean to play or to sing, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Do I use 'seinn' or 'imir' for 'play'?
Use 'seinn' for music and instruments, as in 'seinn an fhidil' (play the fiddle), and 'imir' for games and sports, as in 'imir peil' (play football).
Do I need a preposition with the instrument?
The instrument is usually a direct object, 'seinnim an giotár', but 'seinn ar an ngiotár' is also heard.
