HeyRuaHow to say “to avoid” in Irish
- Irish:
- seachain
- English:
- to avoid, watch out, spare
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- seachaint (ag seachaint, avoiding)
- Verbal adjective:
- seachanta
- Pronunciation:
- “SHAKH-in” /ˈʃaxənʲ/
What does “seachain” mean?
“Seachain” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to avoid
- To keep away from someone or something, or to stop yourself doing something.Also: shun, evade, steer clear of, keep away from.
2 other meanings: watch out or spare
- 2to watch out
- To take care or mind yourself, often used as a warning in the imperative.Also: mind, beware, take care, look out.
- 3to spare
- To save someone from trouble or effort, or to keep yourself from something unpleasant.Also: save from, keep from.
“Seachain” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Sheachain méI avoided | Níor sheachain méI did not avoid | Ar sheachain mé?Did I avoid? |
| tú (you) | Sheachain túYou avoided | Níor sheachain túYou did not avoid | Ar sheachain tú?Did you avoid? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Sheachain sé / síHe avoided | Níor sheachain sé / síHe did not avoid | Ar sheachain sé / sí?Did he avoid? |
| sinn (we) | SheachnaíomarWe avoided | Níor sheachnaíomarWe did not avoid | Ar sheachnaíomar?Did we avoid? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Sheachain sibhYou avoided | Níor sheachain sibhYou did not avoid | Ar sheachain sibh?Did you avoid? |
| siad (they) | Sheachain siadThey avoided | Níor sheachain siadThey did not avoid | Ar sheachain siad?Did they avoid? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Seachnaíodh | Níor seachnaíodh | Ar seachnaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SeachnaímI avoid | Ní sheachnaímI do not avoid | An seachnaím?Do I avoid? |
| tú (you) | Seachnaíonn túYou avoid | Ní sheachnaíonn túYou do not avoid | An seachnaíonn tú?Do you avoid? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Seachnaíonn sé / síHe avoids | Ní sheachnaíonn sé / síHe does not avoid | An seachnaíonn sé / sí?Does he avoid? |
| sinn (we) | SeachnaímidWe avoid | Ní sheachnaímidWe do not avoid | An seachnaímid?Do we avoid? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Seachnaíonn sibhYou avoid | Ní sheachnaíonn sibhYou do not avoid | An seachnaíonn sibh?Do you avoid? |
| siad (they) | Seachnaíonn siadThey avoid | Ní sheachnaíonn siadThey do not avoid | An seachnaíonn siad?Do they avoid? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Seachnaítear | Ní sheachnaítear | An seachnaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Seachnóidh méI will avoid | Ní sheachnóidh méI will not avoid | An seachnóidh mé?Will I avoid? |
| tú (you) | Seachnóidh túYou will avoid | Ní sheachnóidh túYou will not avoid | An seachnóidh tú?Will you avoid? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Seachnóidh sé / síHe will avoid | Ní sheachnóidh sé / síHe will not avoid | An seachnóidh sé / sí?Will he avoid? |
| sinn (we) | SeachnóimidWe will avoid | Ní sheachnóimidWe will not avoid | An seachnóimid?Will we avoid? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Seachnóidh sibhYou will avoid | Ní sheachnóidh sibhYou will not avoid | An seachnóidh sibh?Will you avoid? |
| siad (they) | Seachnóidh siadThey will avoid | Ní sheachnóidh siadThey will not avoid | An seachnóidh siad?Will they avoid? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Seachnófar | Ní sheachnófar | An seachnófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SheachnóinnI would avoid | Ní sheachnóinnI would not avoid | An seachnóinn?Would I avoid? |
| tú (you) | SheachnófáYou would avoid | Ní sheachnófáYou would not avoid | An seachnófá?Would you avoid? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Sheachnódh sé / síHe would avoid | Ní sheachnódh sé / síHe would not avoid | An seachnódh sé / sí?Would he avoid? |
| sinn (we) | SheachnóimisWe would avoid | Ní sheachnóimisWe would not avoid | An seachnóimis?Would we avoid? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Sheachnódh sibhYou would avoid | Ní sheachnódh sibhYou would not avoid | An seachnódh sibh?Would you avoid? |
| siad (they) | SheachnóidísThey would avoid | Ní sheachnóidísThey would not avoid | An seachnóidís?Would they avoid? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Sheachnófaí | Ní sheachnófaí | An seachnófaí? |
“Seachain” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Sheachain sé an trácht ar maidin.
He avoided the traffic this morning.
Seachnaím pubanna i gcónaí.
I always avoid pubs.
Seachnóidh mé an bóthar sin amárach.
I will avoid that road tomorrow.
Sheachnóinn é dá mbeadh ciall agam.
I would avoid him if I had sense.
Níor sheachain sí an fhadhb riamh.
She never avoided the problem.
Ar sheachain tú an múinteoir inné?
Did you avoid the teacher yesterday?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To avoid in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to avoid?
The Irish for to avoid is seachain (pronounced “SHAKH-in”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is seachaint.
What is the verbal noun of seachain?
The verbal noun of seachain is seachaint, used after ag for the continuous: ag seachaint (avoiding). The verbal adjective is seachanta.
How do you say seachain in the past and the future?
Past: Sheachain mé; negative Níor sheachain mé; question Ar sheachain mé?. Future: Seachnóidh mé; negative Ní sheachnóidh mé; question An seachnóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of seachain?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Sheachnóinn (I would avoid); negative Ní sheachnóinn; question An seachnóinn?.
Does seachain have more than one meaning?
Yes. Seachain can mean to avoid, to watch out or to spare, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say "watch out" in Irish?
Use the imperative "Seachain!" to one person and "Seachnaígí!" to several, for example "Seachain, tá carr ag teacht!"
Does "seachain" need a preposition?
No, it takes a direct object: "Sheachain mé é" means "I avoided him".
