HeyRuaHow to say “to initiate” in Irish
- Irish:
- tionscain
- English:
- to initiate, institute, devise
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- tionscnamh (ag tionscnamh, initiating)
- Verbal adjective:
- tionscanta
- Pronunciation:
- “TIN-skin” /tʲɪnʲskənʲ/
What does “tionscain” mean?
“Tionscain” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to initiate
- To begin or start something, such as a project, scheme or undertaking.Also: begin, start, launch, undertake.
2 other meanings: institute or devise
- 2to institute
- To set up or found something such as an organisation, a custom or legal proceedings.Also: found, establish, set up.
- 3to devise
- To think up or plan something new.Also: contrive, plan, invent.
“Tionscain” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Thionscain méI initiated | Níor thionscain méI did not initiate | Ar thionscain mé?Did I initiate? |
| tú (you) | Thionscain túYou initiated | Níor thionscain túYou did not initiate | Ar thionscain tú?Did you initiate? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Thionscain sé / síHe initiated | Níor thionscain sé / síHe did not initiate | Ar thionscain sé / sí?Did he initiate? |
| sinn (we) | ThionscnaíomarWe initiated | Níor thionscnaíomarWe did not initiate | Ar thionscnaíomar?Did we initiate? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Thionscain sibhYou initiated | Níor thionscain sibhYou did not initiate | Ar thionscain sibh?Did you initiate? |
| siad (they) | Thionscain siadThey initiated | Níor thionscain siadThey did not initiate | Ar thionscain siad?Did they initiate? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Tionscnaíodh | Níor tionscnaíodh | Ar tionscnaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | TionscnaímI initiate | Ní thionscnaímI do not initiate | An dtionscnaím?Do I initiate? |
| tú (you) | Tionscnaíonn túYou initiate | Ní thionscnaíonn túYou do not initiate | An dtionscnaíonn tú?Do you initiate? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Tionscnaíonn sé / síHe initiates | Ní thionscnaíonn sé / síHe does not initiate | An dtionscnaíonn sé / sí?Does he initiate? |
| sinn (we) | TionscnaímidWe initiate | Ní thionscnaímidWe do not initiate | An dtionscnaímid?Do we initiate? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Tionscnaíonn sibhYou initiate | Ní thionscnaíonn sibhYou do not initiate | An dtionscnaíonn sibh?Do you initiate? |
| siad (they) | Tionscnaíonn siadThey initiate | Ní thionscnaíonn siadThey do not initiate | An dtionscnaíonn siad?Do they initiate? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Tionscnaítear | Ní thionscnaítear | An dtionscnaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Tionscnóidh méI will initiate | Ní thionscnóidh méI will not initiate | An dtionscnóidh mé?Will I initiate? |
| tú (you) | Tionscnóidh túYou will initiate | Ní thionscnóidh túYou will not initiate | An dtionscnóidh tú?Will you initiate? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Tionscnóidh sé / síHe will initiate | Ní thionscnóidh sé / síHe will not initiate | An dtionscnóidh sé / sí?Will he initiate? |
| sinn (we) | TionscnóimidWe will initiate | Ní thionscnóimidWe will not initiate | An dtionscnóimid?Will we initiate? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Tionscnóidh sibhYou will initiate | Ní thionscnóidh sibhYou will not initiate | An dtionscnóidh sibh?Will you initiate? |
| siad (they) | Tionscnóidh siadThey will initiate | Ní thionscnóidh siadThey will not initiate | An dtionscnóidh siad?Will they initiate? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Tionscnófar | Ní thionscnófar | An dtionscnófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ThionscnóinnI would initiate | Ní thionscnóinnI would not initiate | An dtionscnóinn?Would I initiate? |
| tú (you) | ThionscnófáYou would initiate | Ní thionscnófáYou would not initiate | An dtionscnófá?Would you initiate? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Thionscnódh sé / síHe would initiate | Ní thionscnódh sé / síHe would not initiate | An dtionscnódh sé / sí?Would he initiate? |
| sinn (we) | ThionscnóimisWe would initiate | Ní thionscnóimisWe would not initiate | An dtionscnóimis?Would we initiate? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Thionscnódh sibhYou would initiate | Ní thionscnódh sibhYou would not initiate | An dtionscnódh sibh?Would you initiate? |
| siad (they) | ThionscnóidísThey would initiate | Ní thionscnóidísThey would not initiate | An dtionscnóidís?Would they initiate? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Thionscnófaí | Ní thionscnófaí | An dtionscnófaí? |
“Tionscain” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Thionscain siad scéim nua sa scoil anuraidh.
They started a new scheme in the school last year.
Tionscnaíonn an coiste tionscadal nua gach bliain.
The committee initiates a new project every year.
Tionscnóidh an rialtas feachtas nua an mhí seo chugainn.
The government will launch a new campaign next month.
Thionscnódh sí comhlacht dá mbeadh an t-airgead aici.
She would found a company if she had the money.
Níor thionscain siad aon imeachtaí dlí.
They did not institute any legal proceedings.
Ar thionscain sibh an obair fós?
Have you started the work yet?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To initiate in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to initiate?
The Irish for to initiate is tionscain (pronounced “TIN-skin”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is tionscnamh.
What is the verbal noun of tionscain?
The verbal noun of tionscain is tionscnamh, used after ag for the continuous: ag tionscnamh (initiating). The verbal adjective is tionscanta.
How do you say tionscain in the past and the future?
Past: Thionscain mé; negative Níor thionscain mé; question Ar thionscain mé?. Future: Tionscnóidh mé; negative Ní thionscnóidh mé; question An dtionscnóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of tionscain?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Thionscnóinn (I would initiate); negative Ní thionscnóinn; question An dtionscnóinn?.
Does tionscain have more than one meaning?
Yes. Tionscain can mean to initiate, to institute or to devise, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is 'tionscain' different from 'tosaigh'?
'Tosaigh' is the everyday word for start or begin, while 'tionscain' is more formal and means to initiate or institute something, such as a project. The related noun 'tionscadal' means a project.
