HeyRuaHow to say “to explain” in Irish
- Irish:
- mínigh
- English:
- to explain, interpret, smooth
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- míniú (ag míniú, explaining)
- Verbal adjective:
- mínithe
- Pronunciation:
- “MEE-nih” /ˈmʲiːnʲə/
What does “mínigh” mean?
“Mínigh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to explain
- To make something clear or easy to understand for someone.Also: expound, clarify, make clear.
2 other meanings: interpret or smooth
- 2to interpret
- To give the meaning of something, such as a text, dream or word.Also: define, construe.
- 3to smooth
- To make a surface smooth or fine.Also: polish, make fine.
Other Irish verbs for to explain: soiléirigh (clarify)
“Mínigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Mhínigh méI explained | Níor mhínigh méI did not explain | Ar mhínigh mé?Did I explain? |
| tú (you) | Mhínigh túYou explained | Níor mhínigh túYou did not explain | Ar mhínigh tú?Did you explain? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mhínigh sé / síHe explained | Níor mhínigh sé / síHe did not explain | Ar mhínigh sé / sí?Did he explain? |
| sinn (we) | MhíníomarWe explained | Níor mhíníomarWe did not explain | Ar mhíníomar?Did we explain? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mhínigh sibhYou explained | Níor mhínigh sibhYou did not explain | Ar mhínigh sibh?Did you explain? |
| siad (they) | Mhínigh siadThey explained | Níor mhínigh siadThey did not explain | Ar mhínigh siad?Did they explain? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Míníodh | Níor míníodh | Ar míníodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MínímI explain | Ní mhínímI do not explain | An míním?Do I explain? |
| tú (you) | Míníonn túYou explain | Ní mhíníonn túYou do not explain | An míníonn tú?Do you explain? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Míníonn sé / síHe explains | Ní mhíníonn sé / síHe does not explain | An míníonn sé / sí?Does he explain? |
| sinn (we) | MínímidWe explain | Ní mhínímidWe do not explain | An mínímid?Do we explain? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Míníonn sibhYou explain | Ní mhíníonn sibhYou do not explain | An míníonn sibh?Do you explain? |
| siad (they) | Míníonn siadThey explain | Ní mhíníonn siadThey do not explain | An míníonn siad?Do they explain? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Mínítear | Ní mhínítear | An mínítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Míneoidh méI will explain | Ní mhíneoidh méI will not explain | An míneoidh mé?Will I explain? |
| tú (you) | Míneoidh túYou will explain | Ní mhíneoidh túYou will not explain | An míneoidh tú?Will you explain? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Míneoidh sé / síHe will explain | Ní mhíneoidh sé / síHe will not explain | An míneoidh sé / sí?Will he explain? |
| sinn (we) | MíneoimidWe will explain | Ní mhíneoimidWe will not explain | An míneoimid?Will we explain? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Míneoidh sibhYou will explain | Ní mhíneoidh sibhYou will not explain | An míneoidh sibh?Will you explain? |
| siad (they) | Míneoidh siadThey will explain | Ní mhíneoidh siadThey will not explain | An míneoidh siad?Will they explain? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Míneofar | Ní mhíneofar | An míneofar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | MhíneoinnI would explain | Ní mhíneoinnI would not explain | An míneoinn?Would I explain? |
| tú (you) | MhíneofáYou would explain | Ní mhíneofáYou would not explain | An míneofá?Would you explain? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Mhíneodh sé / síHe would explain | Ní mhíneodh sé / síHe would not explain | An míneodh sé / sí?Would he explain? |
| sinn (we) | MhíneoimisWe would explain | Ní mhíneoimisWe would not explain | An míneoimis?Would we explain? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Mhíneodh sibhYou would explain | Ní mhíneodh sibhYou would not explain | An míneodh sibh?Would you explain? |
| siad (they) | MhíneoidísThey would explain | Ní mhíneoidísThey would not explain | An míneoidís?Would they explain? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Mhíneofaí | Ní mhíneofaí | An míneofaí? |
“Mínigh” 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 explain in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to explain?
The Irish for to explain is mínigh (pronounced “MEE-nih”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is míniú.
What is the verbal noun of mínigh?
The verbal noun of mínigh is míniú, used after ag for the continuous: ag míniú (explaining). The verbal adjective is mínithe.
How do you say mínigh in the past and the future?
Past: Mhínigh mé; negative Níor mhínigh mé; question Ar mhínigh mé?. Future: Míneoidh mé; negative Ní mhíneoidh mé; question An míneoidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of mínigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Mhíneoinn (I would explain); negative Ní mhíneoinn; question An míneoinn?.
Does mínigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Mínigh can mean to explain, to interpret or to smooth, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Which preposition is used with 'mínigh' for the person you explain to?
Use 'do': 'Mhínigh sí an scéal dom' means 'She explained the story to me'.
Is 'mínigh' related to the adjective 'mín'?
Yes, it comes from 'mín' (smooth, fine), which is why it can also mean 'to smooth', though 'explain' is by far the usual meaning today.
