HeyRuaHow to say “to sign” in Irish
- Irish:
- saighneáil
- English:
- to sign, sign on
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- saighneáil (ag saighneáil, signing)
- Verbal adjective:
- saighneáilte
- Pronunciation:
- “SINE-awl” /ˈsˠəinʲaːlʲ/
What does “saighneáil” mean?
“Saighneáil” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to sign
- To write your signature on a document, such as a form, cheque or contract.Also: sign one's name, put one's signature to.
1 other meaning: sign on
- 2to sign on
- To register for unemployment benefit, or to sign up or enlist (with 'ar' or 'le').Also: sign up, enlist.
Other Irish verbs for to sign: sínigh (sign)
“Saighneáil” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Shaighneáil méI signed | Níor shaighneáil méI did not sign | Ar shaighneáil mé?Did I sign? |
| tú (you) | Shaighneáil túYou signed | Níor shaighneáil túYou did not sign | Ar shaighneáil tú?Did you sign? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Shaighneáil sé / síHe signed | Níor shaighneáil sé / síHe did not sign | Ar shaighneáil sé / sí?Did he sign? |
| sinn (we) | ShaighneálamarWe signed | Níor shaighneálamarWe did not sign | Ar shaighneálamar?Did we sign? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Shaighneáil sibhYou signed | Níor shaighneáil sibhYou did not sign | Ar shaighneáil sibh?Did you sign? |
| siad (they) | Shaighneáil siadThey signed | Níor shaighneáil siadThey did not sign | Ar shaighneáil siad?Did they sign? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Saighneáladh | Níor saighneáladh | Ar saighneáladh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SaighneálaimI sign | Ní shaighneálaimI do not sign | An saighneálaim?Do I sign? |
| tú (you) | Saighneálann túYou sign | Ní shaighneálann túYou do not sign | An saighneálann tú?Do you sign? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Saighneálann sé / síHe signs | Ní shaighneálann sé / síHe does not sign | An saighneálann sé / sí?Does he sign? |
| sinn (we) | SaighneálaimidWe sign | Ní shaighneálaimidWe do not sign | An saighneálaimid?Do we sign? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Saighneálann sibhYou sign | Ní shaighneálann sibhYou do not sign | An saighneálann sibh?Do you sign? |
| siad (they) | Saighneálann siadThey sign | Ní shaighneálann siadThey do not sign | An saighneálann siad?Do they sign? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Saighneáiltear | Ní shaighneáiltear | An saighneáiltear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Saighneálfaidh méI will sign | Ní shaighneálfaidh méI will not sign | An saighneálfaidh mé?Will I sign? |
| tú (you) | Saighneálfaidh túYou will sign | Ní shaighneálfaidh túYou will not sign | An saighneálfaidh tú?Will you sign? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Saighneálfaidh sé / síHe will sign | Ní shaighneálfaidh sé / síHe will not sign | An saighneálfaidh sé / sí?Will he sign? |
| sinn (we) | SaighneálfaimidWe will sign | Ní shaighneálfaimidWe will not sign | An saighneálfaimid?Will we sign? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Saighneálfaidh sibhYou will sign | Ní shaighneálfaidh sibhYou will not sign | An saighneálfaidh sibh?Will you sign? |
| siad (they) | Saighneálfaidh siadThey will sign | Ní shaighneálfaidh siadThey will not sign | An saighneálfaidh siad?Will they sign? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Saighneálfar | Ní shaighneálfar | An saighneálfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ShaighneálfainnI would sign | Ní shaighneálfainnI would not sign | An saighneálfainn?Would I sign? |
| tú (you) | ShaighneálfáYou would sign | Ní shaighneálfáYou would not sign | An saighneálfá?Would you sign? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Shaighneálfadh sé / síHe would sign | Ní shaighneálfadh sé / síHe would not sign | An saighneálfadh sé / sí?Would he sign? |
| sinn (we) | ShaighneálfaimisWe would sign | Ní shaighneálfaimisWe would not sign | An saighneálfaimis?Would we sign? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Shaighneálfadh sibhYou would sign | Ní shaighneálfadh sibhYou would not sign | An saighneálfadh sibh?Would you sign? |
| siad (they) | ShaighneálfaidísThey would sign | Ní shaighneálfaidísThey would not sign | An saighneálfaidís?Would they sign? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Shaighneálfaí | Ní shaighneálfaí | An saighneálfaí? |
“Saighneáil” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Shaighneáil sé an conradh inné.
He signed the contract yesterday.
Saighneálann sí a hainm ag bun an leathanaigh.
She signs her name at the bottom of the page.
Saighneálfaidh mé an fhoirm amárach.
I will sign the form tomorrow.
Shaighneálfainn é dá mbeadh peann agam.
I would sign it if I had a pen.
Níor shaighneáil siad an seic fós.
They haven't signed the cheque yet.
Ar shaighneáil tú an litir?
Did you sign the letter?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To sign in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to sign?
The Irish for to sign is saighneáil (pronounced “SINE-awl”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is saighneáil.
What is the verbal noun of saighneáil?
The verbal noun of saighneáil is saighneáil, used after ag for the continuous: ag saighneáil (signing). The verbal adjective is saighneáilte.
How do you say saighneáil in the past and the future?
Past: Shaighneáil mé; negative Níor shaighneáil mé; question Ar shaighneáil mé?. Future: Saighneálfaidh mé; negative Ní shaighneálfaidh mé; question An saighneálfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of saighneáil?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Shaighneálfainn (I would sign); negative Ní shaighneálfainn; question An saighneálfainn?.
Does saighneáil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Saighneáil can mean to sign or to sign on, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'saighneáil' and 'sínigh'?
Both mean 'sign'. 'Sínigh' is the more formal, standard word used in official documents, while 'saighneáil' is a colloquial borrowing heard in everyday speech.
