HeyRuaHow to say “to knot” in Irish
- Irish:
- snaidhm
- English:
- to knot, join, entwine
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- snaidhmeadh (ag snaidhmeadh, knotting)
- Verbal adjective:
- snaidhmthe
- Pronunciation:
- “sneem” /sˠn̪ˠiːmʲ/
What does “snaidhm” mean?
“Snaidhm” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to knot
- To tie something in a knot or fasten it with a knot.Also: tie, tie a knot, fasten.
2 other meanings: join or entwine
- 2to join
- To join or unite things or people closely together.Also: unite, bind, link.
- 3to entwine
- To twist or wind things around each other.Also: intertwine, interlace.
“Snaidhm” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Shnaidhm méI knotted | Níor shnaidhm méI did not knot | Ar shnaidhm mé?Did I knot? |
| tú (you) | Shnaidhm túYou knotted | Níor shnaidhm túYou did not knot | Ar shnaidhm tú?Did you knot? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Shnaidhm sé / síHe knotted | Níor shnaidhm sé / síHe did not knot | Ar shnaidhm sé / sí?Did he knot? |
| sinn (we) | ShnaidhmeamarWe knotted | Níor shnaidhmeamarWe did not knot | Ar shnaidhmeamar?Did we knot? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Shnaidhm sibhYou knotted | Níor shnaidhm sibhYou did not knot | Ar shnaidhm sibh?Did you knot? |
| siad (they) | Shnaidhm siadThey knotted | Níor shnaidhm siadThey did not knot | Ar shnaidhm siad?Did they knot? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Snaidhmeadh | Níor snaidhmeadh | Ar snaidhmeadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SnaidhmimI knot | Ní shnaidhmimI do not knot | An snaidhmim?Do I knot? |
| tú (you) | Snaidhmeann túYou knot | Ní shnaidhmeann túYou do not knot | An snaidhmeann tú?Do you knot? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Snaidhmeann sé / síHe knots | Ní shnaidhmeann sé / síHe does not knot | An snaidhmeann sé / sí?Does he knot? |
| sinn (we) | SnaidhmimidWe knot | Ní shnaidhmimidWe do not knot | An snaidhmimid?Do we knot? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Snaidhmeann sibhYou knot | Ní shnaidhmeann sibhYou do not knot | An snaidhmeann sibh?Do you knot? |
| siad (they) | Snaidhmeann siadThey knot | Ní shnaidhmeann siadThey do not knot | An snaidhmeann siad?Do they knot? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Snaidhmtear | Ní shnaidhmtear | An snaidhmtear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Snaidhmfidh méI will knot | Ní shnaidhmfidh méI will not knot | An snaidhmfidh mé?Will I knot? |
| tú (you) | Snaidhmfidh túYou will knot | Ní shnaidhmfidh túYou will not knot | An snaidhmfidh tú?Will you knot? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Snaidhmfidh sé / síHe will knot | Ní shnaidhmfidh sé / síHe will not knot | An snaidhmfidh sé / sí?Will he knot? |
| sinn (we) | SnaidhmfimidWe will knot | Ní shnaidhmfimidWe will not knot | An snaidhmfimid?Will we knot? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Snaidhmfidh sibhYou will knot | Ní shnaidhmfidh sibhYou will not knot | An snaidhmfidh sibh?Will you knot? |
| siad (they) | Snaidhmfidh siadThey will knot | Ní shnaidhmfidh siadThey will not knot | An snaidhmfidh siad?Will they knot? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Snaidhmfear | Ní shnaidhmfear | An snaidhmfear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ShnaidhmfinnI would knot | Ní shnaidhmfinnI would not knot | An snaidhmfinn?Would I knot? |
| tú (you) | ShnaidhmfeáYou would knot | Ní shnaidhmfeáYou would not knot | An snaidhmfeá?Would you knot? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Shnaidhmfeadh sé / síHe would knot | Ní shnaidhmfeadh sé / síHe would not knot | An snaidhmfeadh sé / sí?Would he knot? |
| sinn (we) | ShnaidhmfimisWe would knot | Ní shnaidhmfimisWe would not knot | An snaidhmfimis?Would we knot? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Shnaidhmfeadh sibhYou would knot | Ní shnaidhmfeadh sibhYou would not knot | An snaidhmfeadh sibh?Would you knot? |
| siad (they) | ShnaidhmfidísThey would knot | Ní shnaidhmfidísThey would not knot | An snaidhmfidís?Would they knot? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Shnaidhmfí | Ní shnaidhmfí | An snaidhmfí? |
“Snaidhm” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Shnaidhm sé an rópa go daingean.
He knotted the rope tightly.
Snaidhmeann sí a cuid iallacha gach maidin.
She ties her laces every morning.
Snaidhmfidh mé an dá théad le chéile.
I will knot the two cords together.
Shnaidhmfeadh sé an líon dá mbeadh téad aige.
He would knot the net if he had a cord.
Níor shnaidhm tú an tsreang i gceart.
You didn't knot the string properly.
Ar shnaidhm tú an bád den chuaille?
Did you tie the boat to the post?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To knot in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to knot?
The Irish for to knot is snaidhm (pronounced “sneem”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is snaidhmeadh.
What is the verbal noun of snaidhm?
The verbal noun of snaidhm is snaidhmeadh, used after ag for the continuous: ag snaidhmeadh (knotting). The verbal adjective is snaidhmthe.
How do you say snaidhm in the past and the future?
Past: Shnaidhm mé; negative Níor shnaidhm mé; question Ar shnaidhm mé?. Future: Snaidhmfidh mé; negative Ní shnaidhmfidh mé; question An snaidhmfidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of snaidhm?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Shnaidhmfinn (I would knot); negative Ní shnaidhmfinn; question An snaidhmfinn?.
Does snaidhm have more than one meaning?
Yes. Snaidhm can mean to knot, to join or to entwine, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'snaidhm' and 'ceangail'?
'Ceangail' is the everyday word for tie or bind, while 'snaidhm' specifically means to tie in a knot or to join closely. The opposite of both is 'scaoil', to untie.
