HeyRuaHow to say “to brown” in Irish
- Irish:
- donnaigh
- English:
- to brown, tan, rust
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- donnú (ag donnú, browning)
- Verbal adjective:
- donnaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “DUN-ee” /d̪ˠʊn̪ˠə/
What does “donnaigh” mean?
“Donnaigh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to brown
- To make something brown or to become brown, for example when cooking.Also: turn brown, go brown.
2 other meanings: tan or rust
- 2to tan
- To become brown from the sun, or to bronze the skin.Also: bronze, get a tan.
- 3to rust
- To become rusty or reddish-brown.Also: go rusty.
Other Irish verbs for to brown: tóstáil (toast)
“Donnaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Dhonnaigh méI browned | Níor dhonnaigh méI did not brown | Ar dhonnaigh mé?Did I brown? |
| tú (you) | Dhonnaigh túYou browned | Níor dhonnaigh túYou did not brown | Ar dhonnaigh tú?Did you brown? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Dhonnaigh sé / síHe browned | Níor dhonnaigh sé / síHe did not brown | Ar dhonnaigh sé / sí?Did he brown? |
| sinn (we) | DhonnaíomarWe browned | Níor dhonnaíomarWe did not brown | Ar dhonnaíomar?Did we brown? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Dhonnaigh sibhYou browned | Níor dhonnaigh sibhYou did not brown | Ar dhonnaigh sibh?Did you brown? |
| siad (they) | Dhonnaigh siadThey browned | Níor dhonnaigh siadThey did not brown | Ar dhonnaigh siad?Did they brown? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Donnaíodh | Níor donnaíodh | Ar donnaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | DonnaímI brown | Ní dhonnaímI do not brown | An ndonnaím?Do I brown? |
| tú (you) | Donnaíonn túYou brown | Ní dhonnaíonn túYou do not brown | An ndonnaíonn tú?Do you brown? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Donnaíonn sé / síHe browns | Ní dhonnaíonn sé / síHe does not brown | An ndonnaíonn sé / sí?Does he brown? |
| sinn (we) | DonnaímidWe brown | Ní dhonnaímidWe do not brown | An ndonnaímid?Do we brown? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Donnaíonn sibhYou brown | Ní dhonnaíonn sibhYou do not brown | An ndonnaíonn sibh?Do you brown? |
| siad (they) | Donnaíonn siadThey brown | Ní dhonnaíonn siadThey do not brown | An ndonnaíonn siad?Do they brown? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Donnaítear | Ní dhonnaítear | An ndonnaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Donnóidh méI will brown | Ní dhonnóidh méI will not brown | An ndonnóidh mé?Will I brown? |
| tú (you) | Donnóidh túYou will brown | Ní dhonnóidh túYou will not brown | An ndonnóidh tú?Will you brown? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Donnóidh sé / síHe will brown | Ní dhonnóidh sé / síHe will not brown | An ndonnóidh sé / sí?Will he brown? |
| sinn (we) | DonnóimidWe will brown | Ní dhonnóimidWe will not brown | An ndonnóimid?Will we brown? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Donnóidh sibhYou will brown | Ní dhonnóidh sibhYou will not brown | An ndonnóidh sibh?Will you brown? |
| siad (they) | Donnóidh siadThey will brown | Ní dhonnóidh siadThey will not brown | An ndonnóidh siad?Will they brown? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Donnófar | Ní dhonnófar | An ndonnófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | DhonnóinnI would brown | Ní dhonnóinnI would not brown | An ndonnóinn?Would I brown? |
| tú (you) | DhonnófáYou would brown | Ní dhonnófáYou would not brown | An ndonnófá?Would you brown? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Dhonnódh sé / síHe would brown | Ní dhonnódh sé / síHe would not brown | An ndonnódh sé / sí?Would he brown? |
| sinn (we) | DhonnóimisWe would brown | Ní dhonnóimisWe would not brown | An ndonnóimis?Would we brown? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Dhonnódh sibhYou would brown | Ní dhonnódh sibhYou would not brown | An ndonnódh sibh?Would you brown? |
| siad (they) | DhonnóidísThey would brown | Ní dhonnóidísThey would not brown | An ndonnóidís?Would they brown? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Dhonnófaí | Ní dhonnófaí | An ndonnófaí? |
“Donnaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Dhonnaigh mé na prátaí sa fhriochtán.
I browned the potatoes in the frying pan.
Donnaíonn na duilleoga san fhómhar.
The leaves turn brown in autumn.
Donnóidh an ghrian do chraiceann.
The sun will tan your skin.
Dhonnódh an fheoil níos tapúla san oigheann.
The meat would brown faster in the oven.
Níor dhonnaigh an t-arán fós.
The bread hasn't browned yet.
Ar dhonnaigh tú na hoinniúin?
Did you brown the onions?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To brown in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to brown?
The Irish for to brown is donnaigh (pronounced “DUN-ee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is donnú.
What is the verbal noun of donnaigh?
The verbal noun of donnaigh is donnú, used after ag for the continuous: ag donnú (browning). The verbal adjective is donnaithe.
How do you say donnaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Dhonnaigh mé; negative Níor dhonnaigh mé; question Ar dhonnaigh mé?. Future: Donnóidh mé; negative Ní dhonnóidh mé; question An ndonnóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of donnaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Dhonnóinn (I would brown); negative Ní dhonnóinn; question An ndonnóinn?.
Does donnaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Donnaigh can mean to brown, to tan or to rust, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the more usual word for 'tan' in the sun?
'Donnaigh' works, but people often say 'dath na gréine a fháil' (to get a suntan).
