HeyRuaHow to say “to reflect” in Irish
- Irish:
- machnaigh
- English:
- to reflect
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- machnamh (ag machnamh, reflecting)
- Verbal adjective:
- machnaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “MOCK-nee” /ˈmaxnˠəɟ/
What does “machnaigh” mean?
- to reflect
- To think deeply and carefully about something.Also: think, ponder, consider, meditate, contemplate.
“Machnaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Mhachnaigh méI reflected | Níor mhachnaigh méI did not reflect | Ar mhachnaigh mé?Did I reflect? |
| tú (you) | Mhachnaigh túYou reflected | Níor mhachnaigh túYou did not reflect | Ar mhachnaigh tú?Did you reflect? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mhachnaigh sé / síHe reflected | Níor mhachnaigh sé / síHe did not reflect | Ar mhachnaigh sé / sí?Did he reflect? |
| sinn (we) | MhachnaíomarWe reflected | Níor mhachnaíomarWe did not reflect | Ar mhachnaíomar?Did we reflect? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mhachnaigh sibhYou reflected | Níor mhachnaigh sibhYou did not reflect | Ar mhachnaigh sibh?Did you reflect? |
| siad (they) | Mhachnaigh siadThey reflected | Níor mhachnaigh siadThey did not reflect | Ar mhachnaigh siad?Did they reflect? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Machnaíodh | Níor machnaíodh | Ar machnaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MachnaímI reflect | Ní mhachnaímI do not reflect | An machnaím?Do I reflect? |
| tú (you) | Machnaíonn túYou reflect | Ní mhachnaíonn túYou do not reflect | An machnaíonn tú?Do you reflect? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Machnaíonn sé / síHe reflects | Ní mhachnaíonn sé / síHe does not reflect | An machnaíonn sé / sí?Does he reflect? |
| sinn (we) | MachnaímidWe reflect | Ní mhachnaímidWe do not reflect | An machnaímid?Do we reflect? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Machnaíonn sibhYou reflect | Ní mhachnaíonn sibhYou do not reflect | An machnaíonn sibh?Do you reflect? |
| siad (they) | Machnaíonn siadThey reflect | Ní mhachnaíonn siadThey do not reflect | An machnaíonn siad?Do they reflect? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Machnaítear | Ní mhachnaítear | An machnaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Machnóidh méI will reflect | Ní mhachnóidh méI will not reflect | An machnóidh mé?Will I reflect? |
| tú (you) | Machnóidh túYou will reflect | Ní mhachnóidh túYou will not reflect | An machnóidh tú?Will you reflect? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Machnóidh sé / síHe will reflect | Ní mhachnóidh sé / síHe will not reflect | An machnóidh sé / sí?Will he reflect? |
| sinn (we) | MachnóimidWe will reflect | Ní mhachnóimidWe will not reflect | An machnóimid?Will we reflect? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Machnóidh sibhYou will reflect | Ní mhachnóidh sibhYou will not reflect | An machnóidh sibh?Will you reflect? |
| siad (they) | Machnóidh siadThey will reflect | Ní mhachnóidh siadThey will not reflect | An machnóidh siad?Will they reflect? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Machnófar | Ní mhachnófar | An machnófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MhachnóinnI would reflect | Ní mhachnóinnI would not reflect | An machnóinn?Would I reflect? |
| tú (you) | MhachnófáYou would reflect | Ní mhachnófáYou would not reflect | An machnófá?Would you reflect? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mhachnódh sé / síHe would reflect | Ní mhachnódh sé / síHe would not reflect | An machnódh sé / sí?Would he reflect? |
| sinn (we) | MhachnóimisWe would reflect | Ní mhachnóimisWe would not reflect | An machnóimis?Would we reflect? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mhachnódh sibhYou would reflect | Ní mhachnódh sibhYou would not reflect | An machnódh sibh?Would you reflect? |
| siad (they) | MhachnóidísThey would reflect | Ní mhachnóidísThey would not reflect | An machnóidís?Would they reflect? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Mhachnófaí | Ní mhachnófaí | An machnófaí? |
“Machnaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Mhachnaigh sí go domhain ar an gceist.
She reflected deeply on the question.
Machnaíonn sé ar a shaol gach oíche.
He reflects on his life every night.
Machnóidh mé air sin roimh an gcruinniú.
I will think about that before the meeting.
Mhachnóinn air sin dá mbeinn i d'áit.
I'd think about that if I were you.
Níor mhachnaigh siad ar na torthaí.
They didn't consider the consequences.
Ar mhachnaigh tú ar a ndúirt mé?
Did you think about what I said?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To reflect in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to reflect?
The Irish for to reflect is machnaigh (pronounced “MOCK-nee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is machnamh.
What is the verbal noun of machnaigh?
The verbal noun of machnaigh is machnamh, used after ag for the continuous: ag machnamh (reflecting). The verbal adjective is machnaithe.
How do you say machnaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Mhachnaigh mé; negative Níor mhachnaigh mé; question Ar mhachnaigh mé?. Future: Machnóidh mé; negative Ní mhachnóidh mé; question An machnóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of machnaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Mhachnóinn (I would reflect); negative Ní mhachnóinn; question An machnóinn?.
What is the difference between 'machnaigh' and 'smaoinigh'?
'Smaoinigh' is the everyday word for think, while 'machnaigh' suggests deeper reflection or meditation, as in 'ag machnamh ar an saol'.
Which preposition does 'machnaigh' take?
It takes 'ar': 'machnaigh ar an scéal' means reflect on the matter.
