HeyRuaHow to say “to abstain” in Irish
- Irish:
- staon
- English:
- to abstain, bend
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- staonadh (ag staonadh, abstaining)
- Verbal adjective:
- staonta
- Pronunciation:
- “stayn” /steːn/
What does “staon” mean?
“Staon” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to abstain
- To hold back from doing or consuming something, such as drink or voting.Also: refrain, hold back, desist.
1 other meaning: bend
- 2to bend
- To bend, incline or turn aside.Also: incline, swerve, turn aside.
“Staon” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Staon méI abstained | Níor staon méI did not abstain | Ar staon mé?Did I abstain? |
| tú (you) | Staon túYou abstained | Níor staon túYou did not abstain | Ar staon tú?Did you abstain? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Staon sé / síHe abstained | Níor staon sé / síHe did not abstain | Ar staon sé / sí?Did he abstain? |
| sinn (we) | StaonamarWe abstained | Níor staonamarWe did not abstain | Ar staonamar?Did we abstain? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Staon sibhYou abstained | Níor staon sibhYou did not abstain | Ar staon sibh?Did you abstain? |
| siad (they) | Staon siadThey abstained | Níor staon siadThey did not abstain | Ar staon siad?Did they abstain? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Staonadh | Níor staonadh | Ar staonadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | StaonaimI abstain | Ní staonaimI do not abstain | An staonaim?Do I abstain? |
| tú (you) | Staonann túYou abstain | Ní staonann túYou do not abstain | An staonann tú?Do you abstain? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Staonann sé / síHe abstains | Ní staonann sé / síHe does not abstain | An staonann sé / sí?Does he abstain? |
| sinn (we) | StaonaimidWe abstain | Ní staonaimidWe do not abstain | An staonaimid?Do we abstain? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Staonann sibhYou abstain | Ní staonann sibhYou do not abstain | An staonann sibh?Do you abstain? |
| siad (they) | Staonann siadThey abstain | Ní staonann siadThey do not abstain | An staonann siad?Do they abstain? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Staontar | Ní staontar | An staontar? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Staonfaidh méI will abstain | Ní staonfaidh méI will not abstain | An staonfaidh mé?Will I abstain? |
| tú (you) | Staonfaidh túYou will abstain | Ní staonfaidh túYou will not abstain | An staonfaidh tú?Will you abstain? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Staonfaidh sé / síHe will abstain | Ní staonfaidh sé / síHe will not abstain | An staonfaidh sé / sí?Will he abstain? |
| sinn (we) | StaonfaimidWe will abstain | Ní staonfaimidWe will not abstain | An staonfaimid?Will we abstain? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Staonfaidh sibhYou will abstain | Ní staonfaidh sibhYou will not abstain | An staonfaidh sibh?Will you abstain? |
| siad (they) | Staonfaidh siadThey will abstain | Ní staonfaidh siadThey will not abstain | An staonfaidh siad?Will they abstain? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Staonfar | Ní staonfar | An staonfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | StaonfainnI would abstain | Ní staonfainnI would not abstain | An staonfainn?Would I abstain? |
| tú (you) | StaonfáYou would abstain | Ní staonfáYou would not abstain | An staonfá?Would you abstain? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Staonfadh sé / síHe would abstain | Ní staonfadh sé / síHe would not abstain | An staonfadh sé / sí?Would he abstain? |
| sinn (we) | StaonfaimisWe would abstain | Ní staonfaimisWe would not abstain | An staonfaimis?Would we abstain? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Staonfadh sibhYou would abstain | Ní staonfadh sibhYou would not abstain | An staonfadh sibh?Would you abstain? |
| siad (they) | StaonfaidísThey would abstain | Ní staonfaidísThey would not abstain | An staonfaidís?Would they abstain? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Staonfaí | Ní staonfaí | An staonfaí? |
“Staon” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Staon sé ón vóta inné.
He abstained from the vote yesterday.
Staonann sí ón ól i rith an Charghais.
She abstains from drink during Lent.
Staonfaidh mé ó fheoil an tseachtain seo.
I will abstain from meat this week.
Staonfadh sé ón ól dá n-iarrfá air.
He would abstain from drink if you asked him.
Níor staon siad ón vótáil.
They did not abstain from voting.
Ar staon tú ón vóta?
Did you abstain from the vote?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To abstain in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to abstain?
The Irish for to abstain is staon (pronounced “stayn”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is staonadh.
What is the verbal noun of staon?
The verbal noun of staon is staonadh, used after ag for the continuous: ag staonadh (abstaining). The verbal adjective is staonta.
How do you say staon in the past and the future?
Past: Staon mé; negative Níor staon mé; question Ar staon mé?. Future: Staonfaidh mé; negative Ní staonfaidh mé; question An staonfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of staon?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Staonfainn (I would abstain); negative Ní staonfainn; question An staonfainn?.
Does staon have more than one meaning?
Yes. Staon can mean to abstain or to bend, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Which preposition goes with 'staon'?
Use 'ó': 'staon ón ól' means to abstain from drink, and 'staon ó vótáil' means to abstain from voting.
