HeyRuaHow to say “to do” in Irish
- Irish:
- déan
- English:
- to do, make, become
- Word type:
- verb, irregular
- Verbal noun:
- déanamh (ag déanamh, doing)
- Verbal adjective:
- déanta
- Pronunciation:
- “jayn” /dʲeːnˠ/
What does “déan” mean?
“Déan” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to do
- To carry out an action or task.Also: carry out, perform, act.
2 other meanings: make or become
- 2to make
- To create, build or produce something.Also: build, create, produce, prepare.
- 3to become
- To turn into something, used with 'de' (rinneadh dochtúir de: he became a doctor).Also: turn into, make into.
“Déan” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Irregular verb. Déan is one of the eleven irregular verbs in Irish, so its forms do not follow the regular pattern. After ní, an and go, the past uses the stem dearna: ní dhearna mé and an ndearna mé?
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Rinne méI did | Ní dhearna méI did not do | An ndearna mé?Did I do? |
| tú (you) | Rinne túYou did | Ní dhearna túYou did not do | An ndearna tú?Did you do? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Rinne sé / síHe did | Ní dhearna sé / síHe did not do | An ndearna sé / sí?Did he do? |
| sinn (we) | RinneamarWe did | Ní dhearnamarWe did not do | An ndearnamar?Did we do? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Rinne sibhYou did | Ní dhearna sibhYou did not do | An ndearna sibh?Did you do? |
| siad (they) | Rinne siadThey did | Ní dhearna siadThey did not do | An ndearna siad?Did they do? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Rinneadh | Ní dhearnadh | An ndearnadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | DéanaimI do | Ní dhéanaimI do not do | An ndéanaim?Do I do? |
| tú (you) | Déanann túYou do | Ní dhéanann túYou do not do | An ndéanann tú?Do you do? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Déanann sé / síHe does | Ní dhéanann sé / síHe does not do | An ndéanann sé / sí?Does he do? |
| sinn (we) | DéanaimidWe do | Ní dhéanaimidWe do not do | An ndéanaimid?Do we do? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Déanann sibhYou do | Ní dhéanann sibhYou do not do | An ndéanann sibh?Do you do? |
| siad (they) | Déanann siadThey do | Ní dhéanann siadThey do not do | An ndéanann siad?Do they do? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Déantar | Ní dhéantar | An ndéantar? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Déanfaidh méI will do | Ní dhéanfaidh méI will not do | An ndéanfaidh mé?Will I do? |
| tú (you) | Déanfaidh túYou will do | Ní dhéanfaidh túYou will not do | An ndéanfaidh tú?Will you do? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Déanfaidh sé / síHe will do | Ní dhéanfaidh sé / síHe will not do | An ndéanfaidh sé / sí?Will he do? |
| sinn (we) | DéanfaimidWe will do | Ní dhéanfaimidWe will not do | An ndéanfaimid?Will we do? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Déanfaidh sibhYou will do | Ní dhéanfaidh sibhYou will not do | An ndéanfaidh sibh?Will you do? |
| siad (they) | Déanfaidh siadThey will do | Ní dhéanfaidh siadThey will not do | An ndéanfaidh siad?Will they do? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Déanfar | Ní dhéanfar | An ndéanfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | DhéanfainnI would do | Ní dhéanfainnI would not do | An ndéanfainn?Would I do? |
| tú (you) | DhéanfáYou would do | Ní dhéanfáYou would not do | An ndéanfá?Would you do? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Dhéanfadh sé / síHe would do | Ní dhéanfadh sé / síHe would not do | An ndéanfadh sé / sí?Would he do? |
| sinn (we) | DhéanfaimisWe would do | Ní dhéanfaimisWe would not do | An ndéanfaimis?Would we do? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Dhéanfadh sibhYou would do | Ní dhéanfadh sibhYou would not do | An ndéanfadh sibh?Would you do? |
| siad (they) | DhéanfaidísThey would do | Ní dhéanfaidísThey would not do | An ndéanfaidís?Would they do? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Dhéanfaí | Ní dhéanfaí | An ndéanfaí? |
“Déan” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Phrases with déan: Go ndéana Dia trócaire orthu (may they rest in peace)
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
Phrases with “déan”
To do in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to do?
The Irish for to do is déan (pronounced “jayn”). It is an irregular verb; the verbal noun is déanamh.
What is the verbal noun of déan?
The verbal noun of déan is déanamh, used after ag for the continuous: ag déanamh (doing). The verbal adjective is déanta.
How do you say déan in the past and the future?
Past: Rinne mé; negative Ní dhearna mé; question An ndearna mé?. Future: Déanfaidh mé; negative Ní dhéanfaidh mé; question An ndéanfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of déan?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Dhéanfainn (I would do); negative Ní dhéanfainn; question An ndéanfainn?.
Is déan an irregular verb?
Déan is one of the eleven irregular verbs in Irish, so its forms do not follow the regular pattern. After ní, an and go, the past uses the stem dearna: ní dhearna mé and an ndearna mé? The tables above give every form.
Does déan have more than one meaning?
Yes. Déan can mean to do, to make or to become, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why is the past tense negative 'ní dhearna' and not 'níor rinne'?
Déan uses the dependent past form 'dearna' after particles: 'ní dhearna mé é' (I didn't do it), 'an ndearna tú é?' (did you do it?).
How do I say 'forget' with déan?
Use 'déan dearmad ar': 'Rinne mé dearmad ar m'eochracha' means 'I forgot my keys'.
