HeyRuaHow to say “to defend” in Irish
- Irish:
- cosain
- English:
- to defend, cost, earn
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- cosaint (ag cosaint, defending)
- Verbal adjective:
- cosanta
- Pronunciation:
- “KUSS-in” /ˈkɔsənʲ/
What does “cosain” mean?
“Cosain” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to defend
- To defend or protect someone or something against harm or attack.Also: protect, guard, shield.
2 other meanings: cost or earn
- 2to cost
- To have a certain price or to require a certain amount to buy.Also: be priced at.
- 3to earn
- To earn or merit something through effort.Also: merit, win.
“Cosain” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Chosain méI defended | Níor chosain méI did not defend | Ar chosain mé?Did I defend? |
| tú (you) | Chosain túYou defended | Níor chosain túYou did not defend | Ar chosain tú?Did you defend? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chosain sé / síHe defended | Níor chosain sé / síHe did not defend | Ar chosain sé / sí?Did he defend? |
| sinn (we) | ChosnaíomarWe defended | Níor chosnaíomarWe did not defend | Ar chosnaíomar?Did we defend? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chosain sibhYou defended | Níor chosain sibhYou did not defend | Ar chosain sibh?Did you defend? |
| siad (they) | Chosain siadThey defended | Níor chosain siadThey did not defend | Ar chosain siad?Did they defend? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cosnaíodh | Níor cosnaíodh | Ar cosnaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CosnaímI defend | Ní chosnaímI do not defend | An gcosnaím?Do I defend? |
| tú (you) | Cosnaíonn túYou defend | Ní chosnaíonn túYou do not defend | An gcosnaíonn tú?Do you defend? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cosnaíonn sé / síHe defends | Ní chosnaíonn sé / síHe does not defend | An gcosnaíonn sé / sí?Does he defend? |
| sinn (we) | CosnaímidWe defend | Ní chosnaímidWe do not defend | An gcosnaímid?Do we defend? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cosnaíonn sibhYou defend | Ní chosnaíonn sibhYou do not defend | An gcosnaíonn sibh?Do you defend? |
| siad (they) | Cosnaíonn siadThey defend | Ní chosnaíonn siadThey do not defend | An gcosnaíonn siad?Do they defend? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cosnaítear | Ní chosnaítear | An gcosnaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Cosnóidh méI will defend | Ní chosnóidh méI will not defend | An gcosnóidh mé?Will I defend? |
| tú (you) | Cosnóidh túYou will defend | Ní chosnóidh túYou will not defend | An gcosnóidh tú?Will you defend? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cosnóidh sé / síHe will defend | Ní chosnóidh sé / síHe will not defend | An gcosnóidh sé / sí?Will he defend? |
| sinn (we) | CosnóimidWe will defend | Ní chosnóimidWe will not defend | An gcosnóimid?Will we defend? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cosnóidh sibhYou will defend | Ní chosnóidh sibhYou will not defend | An gcosnóidh sibh?Will you defend? |
| siad (they) | Cosnóidh siadThey will defend | Ní chosnóidh siadThey will not defend | An gcosnóidh siad?Will they defend? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cosnófar | Ní chosnófar | An gcosnófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChosnóinnI would defend | Ní chosnóinnI would not defend | An gcosnóinn?Would I defend? |
| tú (you) | ChosnófáYou would defend | Ní chosnófáYou would not defend | An gcosnófá?Would you defend? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chosnódh sé / síHe would defend | Ní chosnódh sé / síHe would not defend | An gcosnódh sé / sí?Would he defend? |
| sinn (we) | ChosnóimisWe would defend | Ní chosnóimisWe would not defend | An gcosnóimis?Would we defend? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chosnódh sibhYou would defend | Ní chosnódh sibhYou would not defend | An gcosnódh sibh?Would you defend? |
| siad (they) | ChosnóidísThey would defend | Ní chosnóidísThey would not defend | An gcosnóidís?Would they defend? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Chosnófaí | Ní chosnófaí | An gcosnófaí? |
“Cosain” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Chosain an leabhar sin fiche euro orm.
That book cost me twenty euro.
Cosnaíonn an mháthair a páistí i gcónaí.
The mother always protects her children.
Cosnóidh an t-arm an tír.
The army will defend the country.
Chosnódh sé níos mó i mBaile Átha Cliath.
It would cost more in Dublin.
Níor chosain sé mórán ar chor ar bith.
It didn't cost much at all.
Cé mhéad a chosnaíonn an ticéad?
How much does the ticket cost?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To defend in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to defend?
The Irish for to defend is cosain (pronounced “KUSS-in”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is cosaint.
What is the verbal noun of cosain?
The verbal noun of cosain is cosaint, used after ag for the continuous: ag cosaint (defending). The verbal adjective is cosanta.
How do you say cosain in the past and the future?
Past: Chosain mé; negative Níor chosain mé; question Ar chosain mé?. Future: Cosnóidh mé; negative Ní chosnóidh mé; question An gcosnóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of cosain?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Chosnóinn (I would defend); negative Ní chosnóinn; question An gcosnóinn?.
Does cosain have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cosain can mean to defend, to cost or to earn, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say something cost me money?
Use the preposition ar: "Chosain sé deich euro orm" means "It cost me ten euro."
Which preposition means 'against' with cosain?
Use ar or ó, for example "cosain ar an bhfuacht" or "cosain ón bhfuacht", to protect from the cold.
