HeyRuaHow to say “to deny” in Irish
- Irish:
- séan
- English:
- to deny, renounce, bless
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- séanadh (ag séanadh, denying)
- Verbal adjective:
- séanta
- Pronunciation:
- “shayn” /ʃeːnˠ/
What does “séan” mean?
“Séan” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to deny
- To say that something is not true or did not happen.Also: contradict, refute.
2 other meanings: renounce or bless
- 2to renounce
- To give up, reject or disown someone or something.Also: disown, repudiate, reject.
- 3to bless
- To mark with the sign of the cross or bless, an old literary use.Also: sign with the cross.
“Séan” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Shéan méI denied | Níor shéan méI did not deny | Ar shéan mé?Did I deny? |
| tú (you) | Shéan túYou denied | Níor shéan túYou did not deny | Ar shéan tú?Did you deny? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Shéan sé / síHe denied | Níor shéan sé / síHe did not deny | Ar shéan sé / sí?Did he deny? |
| sinn (we) | ShéanamarWe denied | Níor shéanamarWe did not deny | Ar shéanamar?Did we deny? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Shéan sibhYou denied | Níor shéan sibhYou did not deny | Ar shéan sibh?Did you deny? |
| siad (they) | Shéan siadThey denied | Níor shéan siadThey did not deny | Ar shéan siad?Did they deny? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Séanadh | Níor séanadh | Ar séanadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SéanaimI deny | Ní shéanaimI do not deny | An séanaim?Do I deny? |
| tú (you) | Séanann túYou deny | Ní shéanann túYou do not deny | An séanann tú?Do you deny? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Séanann sé / síHe denies | Ní shéanann sé / síHe does not deny | An séanann sé / sí?Does he deny? |
| sinn (we) | SéanaimidWe deny | Ní shéanaimidWe do not deny | An séanaimid?Do we deny? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Séanann sibhYou deny | Ní shéanann sibhYou do not deny | An séanann sibh?Do you deny? |
| siad (they) | Séanann siadThey deny | Ní shéanann siadThey do not deny | An séanann siad?Do they deny? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Séantar | Ní shéantar | An séantar? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Séanfaidh méI will deny | Ní shéanfaidh méI will not deny | An séanfaidh mé?Will I deny? |
| tú (you) | Séanfaidh túYou will deny | Ní shéanfaidh túYou will not deny | An séanfaidh tú?Will you deny? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Séanfaidh sé / síHe will deny | Ní shéanfaidh sé / síHe will not deny | An séanfaidh sé / sí?Will he deny? |
| sinn (we) | SéanfaimidWe will deny | Ní shéanfaimidWe will not deny | An séanfaimid?Will we deny? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Séanfaidh sibhYou will deny | Ní shéanfaidh sibhYou will not deny | An séanfaidh sibh?Will you deny? |
| siad (they) | Séanfaidh siadThey will deny | Ní shéanfaidh siadThey will not deny | An séanfaidh siad?Will they deny? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Séanfar | Ní shéanfar | An séanfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ShéanfainnI would deny | Ní shéanfainnI would not deny | An séanfainn?Would I deny? |
| tú (you) | ShéanfáYou would deny | Ní shéanfáYou would not deny | An séanfá?Would you deny? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Shéanfadh sé / síHe would deny | Ní shéanfadh sé / síHe would not deny | An séanfadh sé / sí?Would he deny? |
| sinn (we) | ShéanfaimisWe would deny | Ní shéanfaimisWe would not deny | An séanfaimis?Would we deny? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Shéanfadh sibhYou would deny | Ní shéanfadh sibhYou would not deny | An séanfadh sibh?Would you deny? |
| siad (they) | ShéanfaidísThey would deny | Ní shéanfaidísThey would not deny | An séanfaidís?Would they deny? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Shéanfaí | Ní shéanfaí | An séanfaí? |
“Séan” 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 deny in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to deny?
The Irish for to deny is séan (pronounced “shayn”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is séanadh.
What is the verbal noun of séan?
The verbal noun of séan is séanadh, used after ag for the continuous: ag séanadh (denying). The verbal adjective is séanta.
How do you say séan in the past and the future?
Past: Shéan mé; negative Níor shéan mé; question Ar shéan mé?. Future: Séanfaidh mé; negative Ní shéanfaidh mé; question An séanfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of séan?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Shéanfainn (I would deny); negative Ní shéanfainn; question An séanfainn?.
Does séan have more than one meaning?
Yes. Séan can mean to deny, to renounce or to bless, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'séan' and 'diúltaigh'?
'Séan' means to deny that something is true, as in 'shéan sé é', while 'diúltaigh' means to refuse, as in 'dhiúltaigh sé dul ann'.
How do I say 'there is no denying it'?
Use the verbal noun: 'Ní féidir é a shéanadh' or 'níl aon séanadh air'.
