HeyRuaHow to say “to think” in Irish
- Irish:
- smaoinigh
- English:
- to think, think of, intend
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- smaoineamh (ag smaoineamh, thinking)
- Verbal adjective:
- smaoinithe
- Pronunciation:
- “SMWEE-nee” /ˈsmˠiːnʲiː/
What does “smaoinigh” mean?
“Smaoinigh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to think
- To use your mind to consider something or have it in your thoughts.Also: ponder, reflect, consider.
2 other meanings: think of or intend
“Smaoinigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Smaoinigh méI thought | Níor smaoinigh méI did not think | Ar smaoinigh mé?Did I think? |
| tú (you) | Smaoinigh túYou thought | Níor smaoinigh túYou did not think | Ar smaoinigh tú?Did you think? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Smaoinigh sé / síHe thought | Níor smaoinigh sé / síHe did not think | Ar smaoinigh sé / sí?Did he think? |
| sinn (we) | SmaoiníomarWe thought | Níor smaoiníomarWe did not think | Ar smaoiníomar?Did we think? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Smaoinigh sibhYou thought | Níor smaoinigh sibhYou did not think | Ar smaoinigh sibh?Did you think? |
| siad (they) | Smaoinigh siadThey thought | Níor smaoinigh siadThey did not think | Ar smaoinigh siad?Did they think? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Smaoiníodh | Níor smaoiníodh | Ar smaoiníodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SmaoinímI think | Ní smaoinímI do not think | An smaoiním?Do I think? |
| tú (you) | Smaoiníonn túYou think | Ní smaoiníonn túYou do not think | An smaoiníonn tú?Do you think? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Smaoiníonn sé / síHe thinks | Ní smaoiníonn sé / síHe does not think | An smaoiníonn sé / sí?Does he think? |
| sinn (we) | SmaoinímidWe think | Ní smaoinímidWe do not think | An smaoinímid?Do we think? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Smaoiníonn sibhYou think | Ní smaoiníonn sibhYou do not think | An smaoiníonn sibh?Do you think? |
| siad (they) | Smaoiníonn siadThey think | Ní smaoiníonn siadThey do not think | An smaoiníonn siad?Do they think? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Smaoinítear | Ní smaoinítear | An smaoinítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Smaoineoidh méI will think | Ní smaoineoidh méI will not think | An smaoineoidh mé?Will I think? |
| tú (you) | Smaoineoidh túYou will think | Ní smaoineoidh túYou will not think | An smaoineoidh tú?Will you think? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Smaoineoidh sé / síHe will think | Ní smaoineoidh sé / síHe will not think | An smaoineoidh sé / sí?Will he think? |
| sinn (we) | SmaoineoimidWe will think | Ní smaoineoimidWe will not think | An smaoineoimid?Will we think? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Smaoineoidh sibhYou will think | Ní smaoineoidh sibhYou will not think | An smaoineoidh sibh?Will you think? |
| siad (they) | Smaoineoidh siadThey will think | Ní smaoineoidh siadThey will not think | An smaoineoidh siad?Will they think? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Smaoineofar | Ní smaoineofar | An smaoineofar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SmaoineoinnI would think | Ní smaoineoinnI would not think | An smaoineoinn?Would I think? |
| tú (you) | SmaoineofáYou would think | Ní smaoineofáYou would not think | An smaoineofá?Would you think? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Smaoineodh sé / síHe would think | Ní smaoineodh sé / síHe would not think | An smaoineodh sé / sí?Would he think? |
| sinn (we) | SmaoineoimisWe would think | Ní smaoineoimisWe would not think | An smaoineoimis?Would we think? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Smaoineodh sibhYou would think | Ní smaoineodh sibhYou would not think | An smaoineodh sibh?Would you think? |
| siad (they) | SmaoineoidísThey would think | Ní smaoineoidísThey would not think | An smaoineoidís?Would they think? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Smaoineofaí | Ní smaoineofaí | An smaoineofaí? |
“Smaoinigh” 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 think in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to think?
The Irish for to think is smaoinigh (pronounced “SMWEE-nee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is smaoineamh.
What is the verbal noun of smaoinigh?
The verbal noun of smaoinigh is smaoineamh, used after ag for the continuous: ag smaoineamh (thinking). The verbal adjective is smaoinithe.
How do you say smaoinigh in the past and the future?
Past: Smaoinigh mé; negative Níor smaoinigh mé; question Ar smaoinigh mé?. Future: Smaoineoidh mé; negative Ní smaoineoidh mé; question An smaoineoidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of smaoinigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Smaoineoinn (I would think); negative Ní smaoineoinn; question An smaoineoinn?.
Does smaoinigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Smaoinigh can mean to think, to think of or to intend, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What preposition does 'smaoinigh' take?
It takes 'ar': 'smaoinigh ar do chlann' means 'think of your family'.
How is 'smaoinigh' different from 'ceap' or 'síl'?
'Smaoinigh' means to think about or ponder, while 'ceap' and 'síl' express an opinion, as in 'ceapaim go bhfuil sé fuar' (I think it is cold).
