HeyRuaHow to say “to swear” in Irish
- Irish:
- mionnaigh
- English:
- to swear, swear in
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- mionnú (ag mionnú, swearing)
- Verbal adjective:
- mionnaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “MYUN-ee” /ˈmʲʊnˠiː/
What does “mionnaigh” mean?
“Mionnaigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to swear
- To make a solemn promise or declaration under oath.Also: take an oath, vow, swear an oath.
1 other meaning: swear in
- 2to swear in
- To formally put someone under oath, for example a witness or an official.Also: administer an oath, put under oath.
Other Irish verbs for to swear: eascainigh (curse)
“Mionnaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Mhionnaigh méI swore | Níor mhionnaigh méI did not swear | Ar mhionnaigh mé?Did I swear? |
| tú (you) | Mhionnaigh túYou swore | Níor mhionnaigh túYou did not swear | Ar mhionnaigh tú?Did you swear? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mhionnaigh sé / síHe swore | Níor mhionnaigh sé / síHe did not swear | Ar mhionnaigh sé / sí?Did he swear? |
| sinn (we) | MhionnaíomarWe swore | Níor mhionnaíomarWe did not swear | Ar mhionnaíomar?Did we swear? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mhionnaigh sibhYou swore | Níor mhionnaigh sibhYou did not swear | Ar mhionnaigh sibh?Did you swear? |
| siad (they) | Mhionnaigh siadThey swore | Níor mhionnaigh siadThey did not swear | Ar mhionnaigh siad?Did they swear? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Mionnaíodh | Níor mionnaíodh | Ar mionnaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MionnaímI swear | Ní mhionnaímI do not swear | An mionnaím?Do I swear? |
| tú (you) | Mionnaíonn túYou swear | Ní mhionnaíonn túYou do not swear | An mionnaíonn tú?Do you swear? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mionnaíonn sé / síHe swears | Ní mhionnaíonn sé / síHe does not swear | An mionnaíonn sé / sí?Does he swear? |
| sinn (we) | MionnaímidWe swear | Ní mhionnaímidWe do not swear | An mionnaímid?Do we swear? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mionnaíonn sibhYou swear | Ní mhionnaíonn sibhYou do not swear | An mionnaíonn sibh?Do you swear? |
| siad (they) | Mionnaíonn siadThey swear | Ní mhionnaíonn siadThey do not swear | An mionnaíonn siad?Do they swear? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Mionnaítear | Ní mhionnaítear | An mionnaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Mionnóidh méI will swear | Ní mhionnóidh méI will not swear | An mionnóidh mé?Will I swear? |
| tú (you) | Mionnóidh túYou will swear | Ní mhionnóidh túYou will not swear | An mionnóidh tú?Will you swear? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mionnóidh sé / síHe will swear | Ní mhionnóidh sé / síHe will not swear | An mionnóidh sé / sí?Will he swear? |
| sinn (we) | MionnóimidWe will swear | Ní mhionnóimidWe will not swear | An mionnóimid?Will we swear? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mionnóidh sibhYou will swear | Ní mhionnóidh sibhYou will not swear | An mionnóidh sibh?Will you swear? |
| siad (they) | Mionnóidh siadThey will swear | Ní mhionnóidh siadThey will not swear | An mionnóidh siad?Will they swear? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Mionnófar | Ní mhionnófar | An mionnófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MhionnóinnI would swear | Ní mhionnóinnI would not swear | An mionnóinn?Would I swear? |
| tú (you) | MhionnófáYou would swear | Ní mhionnófáYou would not swear | An mionnófá?Would you swear? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mhionnódh sé / síHe would swear | Ní mhionnódh sé / síHe would not swear | An mionnódh sé / sí?Would he swear? |
| sinn (we) | MhionnóimisWe would swear | Ní mhionnóimisWe would not swear | An mionnóimis?Would we swear? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mhionnódh sibhYou would swear | Ní mhionnódh sibhYou would not swear | An mionnódh sibh?Would you swear? |
| siad (they) | MhionnóidísThey would swear | Ní mhionnóidísThey would not swear | An mionnóidís?Would they swear? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Mhionnófaí | Ní mhionnófaí | An mionnófaí? |
“Mionnaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Mhionnaigh an finné go raibh sé ag insint na fírinne.
The witness swore that he was telling the truth.
Mionnaíonn sí gach uair nach ndéanfaidh sí arís é.
She swears every time that she won't do it again.
Mionnóidh an t-uachtarán nua amárach.
The new president will take the oath tomorrow.
Mhionnóinn air sin dá mbeadh orm.
I would swear to that if I had to.
Níor mhionnaigh sé riamh in aghaidh a dhearthár.
He never swore against his brother.
Ar mhionnaigh tú é sin os comhair na cúirte?
Did you swear that in front of the court?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To swear in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to swear?
The Irish for to swear is mionnaigh (pronounced “MYUN-ee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is mionnú.
What is the verbal noun of mionnaigh?
The verbal noun of mionnaigh is mionnú, used after ag for the continuous: ag mionnú (swearing). The verbal adjective is mionnaithe.
How do you say mionnaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Mhionnaigh mé; negative Níor mhionnaigh mé; question Ar mhionnaigh mé?. Future: Mionnóidh mé; negative Ní mhionnóidh mé; question An mionnóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of mionnaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Mhionnóinn (I would swear); negative Ní mhionnóinn; question An mionnóinn?.
Does mionnaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Mionnaigh can mean to swear or to swear in, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Does 'mionnaigh' mean to swear as in using bad language?
No, 'mionnaigh' means to swear an oath. For cursing or bad language use 'eascainigh' or 'bheith ag eascainí'.
How do you say 'take an oath' in Irish?
You can use the verb 'mionnaigh' or the phrase 'mionn a thabhairt'.
