HeyRuaHow to say “to define” in Irish
- Irish:
- sainmhínigh
- English:
- to define
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- sainmhíniú (ag sainmhíniú, defining)
- Verbal adjective:
- sainmhínithe
- Pronunciation:
- “SAN-veen-ee” /ˈsanʲvʲiːnʲiː/
What does “sainmhínigh” mean?
- to define
- To state exactly what a word, term or idea means.Also: specify the meaning, give a definition.
“Sainmhínigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Shainmhínigh méI defined | Níor shainmhínigh méI did not define | Ar shainmhínigh mé?Did I define? |
| tú (you) | Shainmhínigh túYou defined | Níor shainmhínigh túYou did not define | Ar shainmhínigh tú?Did you define? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Shainmhínigh sé / síHe defined | Níor shainmhínigh sé / síHe did not define | Ar shainmhínigh sé / sí?Did he define? |
| sinn (we) | ShainmhíníomarWe defined | Níor shainmhíníomarWe did not define | Ar shainmhíníomar?Did we define? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Shainmhínigh sibhYou defined | Níor shainmhínigh sibhYou did not define | Ar shainmhínigh sibh?Did you define? |
| siad (they) | Shainmhínigh siadThey defined | Níor shainmhínigh siadThey did not define | Ar shainmhínigh siad?Did they define? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Sainmhíníodh | Níor sainmhíníodh | Ar sainmhíníodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SainmhínímI define | Ní shainmhínímI do not define | An sainmhíním?Do I define? |
| tú (you) | Sainmhíníonn túYou define | Ní shainmhíníonn túYou do not define | An sainmhíníonn tú?Do you define? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Sainmhíníonn sé / síHe defines | Ní shainmhíníonn sé / síHe does not define | An sainmhíníonn sé / sí?Does he define? |
| sinn (we) | SainmhínímidWe define | Ní shainmhínímidWe do not define | An sainmhínímid?Do we define? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Sainmhíníonn sibhYou define | Ní shainmhíníonn sibhYou do not define | An sainmhíníonn sibh?Do you define? |
| siad (they) | Sainmhíníonn siadThey define | Ní shainmhíníonn siadThey do not define | An sainmhíníonn siad?Do they define? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Sainmhínítear | Ní shainmhínítear | An sainmhínítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Sainmhíneoidh méI will define | Ní shainmhíneoidh méI will not define | An sainmhíneoidh mé?Will I define? |
| tú (you) | Sainmhíneoidh túYou will define | Ní shainmhíneoidh túYou will not define | An sainmhíneoidh tú?Will you define? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Sainmhíneoidh sé / síHe will define | Ní shainmhíneoidh sé / síHe will not define | An sainmhíneoidh sé / sí?Will he define? |
| sinn (we) | SainmhíneoimidWe will define | Ní shainmhíneoimidWe will not define | An sainmhíneoimid?Will we define? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Sainmhíneoidh sibhYou will define | Ní shainmhíneoidh sibhYou will not define | An sainmhíneoidh sibh?Will you define? |
| siad (they) | Sainmhíneoidh siadThey will define | Ní shainmhíneoidh siadThey will not define | An sainmhíneoidh siad?Will they define? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Sainmhíneofar | Ní shainmhíneofar | An sainmhíneofar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ShainmhíneoinnI would define | Ní shainmhíneoinnI would not define | An sainmhíneoinn?Would I define? |
| tú (you) | ShainmhíneofáYou would define | Ní shainmhíneofáYou would not define | An sainmhíneofá?Would you define? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Shainmhíneodh sé / síHe would define | Ní shainmhíneodh sé / síHe would not define | An sainmhíneodh sé / sí?Would he define? |
| sinn (we) | ShainmhíneoimisWe would define | Ní shainmhíneoimisWe would not define | An sainmhíneoimis?Would we define? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Shainmhíneodh sibhYou would define | Ní shainmhíneodh sibhYou would not define | An sainmhíneodh sibh?Would you define? |
| siad (they) | ShainmhíneoidísThey would define | Ní shainmhíneoidísThey would not define | An sainmhíneoidís?Would they define? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Shainmhíneofaí | Ní shainmhíneofaí | An sainmhíneofaí? |
“Sainmhínigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Shainmhínigh an múinteoir an focal go soiléir.
The teacher defined the word clearly.
Sainmhíníonn an dlí an téarma sin go cúramach.
The law defines that term carefully.
Sainmhíneoidh mé na téarmaí ag tús na haiste.
I will define the terms at the start of the essay.
Shainmhíneodh an foclóir é níos fearr.
The dictionary would define it better.
Níor shainmhínigh sé an coincheap riamh.
He never defined the concept.
Ar shainmhínigh tú an focal sin?
Did you define that word?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To define in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to define?
The Irish for to define is sainmhínigh (pronounced “SAN-veen-ee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is sainmhíniú.
What is the verbal noun of sainmhínigh?
The verbal noun of sainmhínigh is sainmhíniú, used after ag for the continuous: ag sainmhíniú (defining). The verbal adjective is sainmhínithe.
How do you say sainmhínigh in the past and the future?
Past: Shainmhínigh mé; negative Níor shainmhínigh mé; question Ar shainmhínigh mé?. Future: Sainmhíneoidh mé; negative Ní shainmhíneoidh mé; question An sainmhíneoidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of sainmhínigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Shainmhíneoinn (I would define); negative Ní shainmhíneoinn; question An sainmhíneoinn?.
What is the difference between 'sainmhínigh' and 'mínigh'?
'Mínigh' means to explain in general, while 'sainmhínigh' means to define precisely. A definition is 'sainmhíniú'.
