HeyRuaHow to say “to follow” in Irish
- Irish:
- lean
- English:
- to follow, continue, last, adhere to
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- leanúint (ag leanúint, following)
- Verbal adjective:
- leanta
- Pronunciation:
- “lyan” /lʲan̪ˠ/
What does “lean” mean?
“Lean” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to follow
- To go or come after someone or something.Also: go after, pursue, chase.
3 other meanings: continue or last or adhere to
- 2to continue
- To keep on doing something or keep going (often 'lean ar' or 'lean de').Also: keep on, keep going, carry on.
- 3to last
- To go on for a period of time or endure.Also: endure, remain, persist.
- 4to adhere to
- To stick to or act according to advice, rules or a custom.Also: stick to, abide by, follow.
“Lean” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Lean méI followed | Níor lean méI did not follow | Ar lean mé?Did I follow? |
| tú (you) | Lean túYou followed | Níor lean túYou did not follow | Ar lean tú?Did you follow? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Lean sé / síHe followed | Níor lean sé / síHe did not follow | Ar lean sé / sí?Did he follow? |
| sinn (we) | LeanamarWe followed | Níor leanamarWe did not follow | Ar leanamar?Did we follow? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Lean sibhYou followed | Níor lean sibhYou did not follow | Ar lean sibh?Did you follow? |
| siad (they) | Lean siadThey followed | Níor lean siadThey did not follow | Ar lean siad?Did they follow? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Leanadh | Níor leanadh | Ar leanadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | LeanaimI follow | Ní leanaimI do not follow | An leanaim?Do I follow? |
| tú (you) | Leanann túYou follow | Ní leanann túYou do not follow | An leanann tú?Do you follow? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Leanann sé / síHe follows | Ní leanann sé / síHe does not follow | An leanann sé / sí?Does he follow? |
| sinn (we) | LeanaimidWe follow | Ní leanaimidWe do not follow | An leanaimid?Do we follow? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Leanann sibhYou follow | Ní leanann sibhYou do not follow | An leanann sibh?Do you follow? |
| siad (they) | Leanann siadThey follow | Ní leanann siadThey do not follow | An leanann siad?Do they follow? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Leantar | Ní leantar | An leantar? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Leanfaidh méI will follow | Ní leanfaidh méI will not follow | An leanfaidh mé?Will I follow? |
| tú (you) | Leanfaidh túYou will follow | Ní leanfaidh túYou will not follow | An leanfaidh tú?Will you follow? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Leanfaidh sé / síHe will follow | Ní leanfaidh sé / síHe will not follow | An leanfaidh sé / sí?Will he follow? |
| sinn (we) | LeanfaimidWe will follow | Ní leanfaimidWe will not follow | An leanfaimid?Will we follow? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Leanfaidh sibhYou will follow | Ní leanfaidh sibhYou will not follow | An leanfaidh sibh?Will you follow? |
| siad (they) | Leanfaidh siadThey will follow | Ní leanfaidh siadThey will not follow | An leanfaidh siad?Will they follow? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Leanfar | Ní leanfar | An leanfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | LeanfainnI would follow | Ní leanfainnI would not follow | An leanfainn?Would I follow? |
| tú (you) | LeanfáYou would follow | Ní leanfáYou would not follow | An leanfá?Would you follow? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Leanfadh sé / síHe would follow | Ní leanfadh sé / síHe would not follow | An leanfadh sé / sí?Would he follow? |
| sinn (we) | LeanfaimisWe would follow | Ní leanfaimisWe would not follow | An leanfaimis?Would we follow? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Leanfadh sibhYou would follow | Ní leanfadh sibhYou would not follow | An leanfadh sibh?Would you follow? |
| siad (they) | LeanfaidísThey would follow | Ní leanfaidísThey would not follow | An leanfaidís?Would they follow? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Leanfaí | Ní leanfaí | An leanfaí? |
“Lean” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Lean siad abhaile mé aréir.
They followed me home last night.
Leanann an madra é gach áit a dtéann sé.
The dog follows him everywhere he goes.
Leanfaidh mé ar aghaidh leis an obair amárach.
I will continue with the work tomorrow.
Leanfadh sí thú dá n-iarrfá uirthi.
She would follow you if you asked her.
Níor lean an drochaimsir rófhada.
The bad weather didn't last too long.
Ar lean tú na treoracha?
Did you follow the instructions?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To follow in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to follow?
The Irish for to follow is lean (pronounced “lyan”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is leanúint.
What is the verbal noun of lean?
The verbal noun of lean is leanúint, used after ag for the continuous: ag leanúint (following). The verbal adjective is leanta.
How do you say lean in the past and the future?
Past: Lean mé; negative Níor lean mé; question Ar lean mé?. Future: Leanfaidh mé; negative Ní leanfaidh mé; question An leanfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of lean?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Leanfainn (I would follow); negative Ní leanfainn; question An leanfainn?.
Does lean have more than one meaning?
Yes. Lean can mean to follow, to continue, to last or to adhere to, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'lean' and 'lean ar'?
'Lean' alone means to follow, as in 'Lean an carr sin'. 'Lean ar' means to continue or keep going, as in 'Lean ort!' (Keep going!).
