HeyRuaHow to say “to identify” in Irish
- Irish:
- céannaigh
- English:
- to identify
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- céannú (ag céannú, identifying)
- Verbal adjective:
- céannaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “KAY-nee” /ˈceːn̪ˠiː/
What does “céannaigh” mean?
- to identify
- To recognise and establish who or what someone or something is.Also: recognise, establish identity.
“Céannaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Chéannaigh méI identified | Níor chéannaigh méI did not identify | Ar chéannaigh mé?Did I identify? |
| tú (you) | Chéannaigh túYou identified | Níor chéannaigh túYou did not identify | Ar chéannaigh tú?Did you identify? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chéannaigh sé / síHe identified | Níor chéannaigh sé / síHe did not identify | Ar chéannaigh sé / sí?Did he identify? |
| sinn (we) | ChéannaíomarWe identified | Níor chéannaíomarWe did not identify | Ar chéannaíomar?Did we identify? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chéannaigh sibhYou identified | Níor chéannaigh sibhYou did not identify | Ar chéannaigh sibh?Did you identify? |
| siad (they) | Chéannaigh siadThey identified | Níor chéannaigh siadThey did not identify | Ar chéannaigh siad?Did they identify? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Céannaíodh | Níor céannaíodh | Ar céannaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CéannaímI identify | Ní chéannaímI do not identify | An gcéannaím?Do I identify? |
| tú (you) | Céannaíonn túYou identify | Ní chéannaíonn túYou do not identify | An gcéannaíonn tú?Do you identify? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Céannaíonn sé / síHe identifies | Ní chéannaíonn sé / síHe does not identify | An gcéannaíonn sé / sí?Does he identify? |
| sinn (we) | CéannaímidWe identify | Ní chéannaímidWe do not identify | An gcéannaímid?Do we identify? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Céannaíonn sibhYou identify | Ní chéannaíonn sibhYou do not identify | An gcéannaíonn sibh?Do you identify? |
| siad (they) | Céannaíonn siadThey identify | Ní chéannaíonn siadThey do not identify | An gcéannaíonn siad?Do they identify? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Céannaítear | Ní chéannaítear | An gcéannaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Céannóidh méI will identify | Ní chéannóidh méI will not identify | An gcéannóidh mé?Will I identify? |
| tú (you) | Céannóidh túYou will identify | Ní chéannóidh túYou will not identify | An gcéannóidh tú?Will you identify? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Céannóidh sé / síHe will identify | Ní chéannóidh sé / síHe will not identify | An gcéannóidh sé / sí?Will he identify? |
| sinn (we) | CéannóimidWe will identify | Ní chéannóimidWe will not identify | An gcéannóimid?Will we identify? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Céannóidh sibhYou will identify | Ní chéannóidh sibhYou will not identify | An gcéannóidh sibh?Will you identify? |
| siad (they) | Céannóidh siadThey will identify | Ní chéannóidh siadThey will not identify | An gcéannóidh siad?Will they identify? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Céannófar | Ní chéannófar | An gcéannófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChéannóinnI would identify | Ní chéannóinnI would not identify | An gcéannóinn?Would I identify? |
| tú (you) | ChéannófáYou would identify | Ní chéannófáYou would not identify | An gcéannófá?Would you identify? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chéannódh sé / síHe would identify | Ní chéannódh sé / síHe would not identify | An gcéannódh sé / sí?Would he identify? |
| sinn (we) | ChéannóimisWe would identify | Ní chéannóimisWe would not identify | An gcéannóimis?Would we identify? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chéannódh sibhYou would identify | Ní chéannódh sibhYou would not identify | An gcéannódh sibh?Would you identify? |
| siad (they) | ChéannóidísThey would identify | Ní chéannóidísThey would not identify | An gcéannóidís?Would they identify? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Chéannófaí | Ní chéannófaí | An gcéannófaí? |
“Céannaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Chéannaigh na gardaí an fear inné.
The guards identified the man yesterday.
Céannaíonn an córas gach úsáideoir go huathoibríoch.
The system identifies every user automatically.
Céannóidh an saineolaí an éanlaith dúinn.
The expert will identify the birds for us.
Chéannódh sí an gadaí dá bhfeicfeadh sí arís é.
She would identify the thief if she saw him again.
Níor céannaíodh an corp go fóill.
The body has not been identified yet.
Ar chéannaigh tú an fhadhb?
Did you identify the problem?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To identify in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to identify?
The Irish for to identify is céannaigh (pronounced “KAY-nee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is céannú.
What is the verbal noun of céannaigh?
The verbal noun of céannaigh is céannú, used after ag for the continuous: ag céannú (identifying). The verbal adjective is céannaithe.
How do you say céannaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Chéannaigh mé; negative Níor chéannaigh mé; question Ar chéannaigh mé?. Future: Céannóidh mé; negative Ní chéannóidh mé; question An gcéannóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of céannaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Chéannóinn (I would identify); negative Ní chéannóinn; question An gcéannóinn?.
What is the difference between 'céannaigh' and 'aithin'?
'Aithin' is the everyday word for recognise or know someone, while 'céannaigh' is a formal word for officially identifying, as in 'an corp a chéannú'. 'Sainaithin' is also used for identify in technical contexts.
