HeyRuaHow to say “to decide” in Irish
- Irish:
- cinn
- English:
- to decide, surpass, fix
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- cinneadh (ag cinneadh, deciding)
- Verbal adjective:
- cinnte
- Pronunciation:
- “kin” /cɪn̠ʲ/
What does “cinn” mean?
“Cinn” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to decide
- To make up your mind or come to a decision about something.Also: determine, resolve, settle on.
2 other meanings: surpass or fix
- 2to surpass
- To beat, overcome or be too much for someone or something.Also: overcome, beat, be too much for, defeat.
- 3to fix
- To appoint or fix something such as a date or a destiny.Also: appoint, ordain, destine.
Other Irish verbs for to decide: beartaigh (decide)
“Cinn” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Chinn méI decided | Níor chinn méI did not decide | Ar chinn mé?Did I decide? |
| tú (you) | Chinn túYou decided | Níor chinn túYou did not decide | Ar chinn tú?Did you decide? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chinn sé / síHe decided | Níor chinn sé / síHe did not decide | Ar chinn sé / sí?Did he decide? |
| sinn (we) | ChinneamarWe decided | Níor chinneamarWe did not decide | Ar chinneamar?Did we decide? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chinn sibhYou decided | Níor chinn sibhYou did not decide | Ar chinn sibh?Did you decide? |
| siad (they) | Chinn siadThey decided | Níor chinn siadThey did not decide | Ar chinn siad?Did they decide? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cinneadh | Níor cinneadh | Ar cinneadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CinnimI decide | Ní chinnimI do not decide | An gcinnim?Do I decide? |
| tú (you) | Cinneann túYou decide | Ní chinneann túYou do not decide | An gcinneann tú?Do you decide? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cinneann sé / síHe decides | Ní chinneann sé / síHe does not decide | An gcinneann sé / sí?Does he decide? |
| sinn (we) | CinnimidWe decide | Ní chinnimidWe do not decide | An gcinnimid?Do we decide? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cinneann sibhYou decide | Ní chinneann sibhYou do not decide | An gcinneann sibh?Do you decide? |
| siad (they) | Cinneann siadThey decide | Ní chinneann siadThey do not decide | An gcinneann siad?Do they decide? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cinntear | Ní chinntear | An gcinntear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Cinnfidh méI will decide | Ní chinnfidh méI will not decide | An gcinnfidh mé?Will I decide? |
| tú (you) | Cinnfidh túYou will decide | Ní chinnfidh túYou will not decide | An gcinnfidh tú?Will you decide? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cinnfidh sé / síHe will decide | Ní chinnfidh sé / síHe will not decide | An gcinnfidh sé / sí?Will he decide? |
| sinn (we) | CinnfimidWe will decide | Ní chinnfimidWe will not decide | An gcinnfimid?Will we decide? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cinnfidh sibhYou will decide | Ní chinnfidh sibhYou will not decide | An gcinnfidh sibh?Will you decide? |
| siad (they) | Cinnfidh siadThey will decide | Ní chinnfidh siadThey will not decide | An gcinnfidh siad?Will they decide? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cinnfear | Ní chinnfear | An gcinnfear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChinnfinnI would decide | Ní chinnfinnI would not decide | An gcinnfinn?Would I decide? |
| tú (you) | ChinnfeáYou would decide | Ní chinnfeáYou would not decide | An gcinnfeá?Would you decide? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chinnfeadh sé / síHe would decide | Ní chinnfeadh sé / síHe would not decide | An gcinnfeadh sé / sí?Would he decide? |
| sinn (we) | ChinnfimisWe would decide | Ní chinnfimisWe would not decide | An gcinnfimis?Would we decide? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chinnfeadh sibhYou would decide | Ní chinnfeadh sibhYou would not decide | An gcinnfeadh sibh?Would you decide? |
| siad (they) | ChinnfidísThey would decide | Ní chinnfidísThey would not decide | An gcinnfidís?Would they decide? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Chinnfí | Ní chinnfí | An gcinnfí? |
“Cinn” 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 decide in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to decide?
The Irish for to decide is cinn (pronounced “kin”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is cinneadh.
What is the verbal noun of cinn?
The verbal noun of cinn is cinneadh, used after ag for the continuous: ag cinneadh (deciding). The verbal adjective is cinnte.
How do you say cinn in the past and the future?
Past: Chinn mé; negative Níor chinn mé; question Ar chinn mé?. Future: Cinnfidh mé; negative Ní chinnfidh mé; question An gcinnfidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of cinn?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Chinnfinn (I would decide); negative Ní chinnfinn; question An gcinnfinn?.
Does cinn have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cinn can mean to decide, to surpass or to fix, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'make a decision' in Irish?
Use the verbal noun with déan: 'cinneadh a dhéanamh', e.g. 'Rinne mé cinneadh.' (I made a decision).
Is 'cinn' the same as 'cinn' meaning heads?
No, the verb 'cinn' (decide) is unrelated in use to 'cinn', the plural of 'ceann' (head), as in 'chun cinn' (forward).
