HeyRuaHow to say “to lenite” in Irish
- Irish:
- séimhigh
- English:
- to lenite, soften, thin
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- séimhiú (ag séimhiú, leniting)
- Verbal adjective:
- séimhithe
- Pronunciation:
- “SHAY-vee” /ʃeːvʲiː/
What does “séimhigh” mean?
“Séimhigh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to lenite
- To change the first consonant of a word by lenition, usually shown in writing by adding 'h'.Also: aspirate, soften a consonant.
2 other meanings: soften or thin
- 2to soften
- To make or become mild, gentle or less harsh.Also: mellow, make mild, become mild.
- 3to thin
- To make something thin or fine; to attenuate.Also: attenuate, refine.
“Séimhigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Shéimhigh méI lenited | Níor shéimhigh méI did not lenite | Ar shéimhigh mé?Did I lenite? |
| tú (you) | Shéimhigh túYou lenited | Níor shéimhigh túYou did not lenite | Ar shéimhigh tú?Did you lenite? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Shéimhigh sé / síHe lenited | Níor shéimhigh sé / síHe did not lenite | Ar shéimhigh sé / sí?Did he lenite? |
| sinn (we) | ShéimhíomarWe lenited | Níor shéimhíomarWe did not lenite | Ar shéimhíomar?Did we lenite? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Shéimhigh sibhYou lenited | Níor shéimhigh sibhYou did not lenite | Ar shéimhigh sibh?Did you lenite? |
| siad (they) | Shéimhigh siadThey lenited | Níor shéimhigh siadThey did not lenite | Ar shéimhigh siad?Did they lenite? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Séimhíodh | Níor séimhíodh | Ar séimhíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SéimhímI lenite | Ní shéimhímI do not lenite | An séimhím?Do I lenite? |
| tú (you) | Séimhíonn túYou lenite | Ní shéimhíonn túYou do not lenite | An séimhíonn tú?Do you lenite? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Séimhíonn sé / síHe lenites | Ní shéimhíonn sé / síHe does not lenite | An séimhíonn sé / sí?Does he lenite? |
| sinn (we) | SéimhímidWe lenite | Ní shéimhímidWe do not lenite | An séimhímid?Do we lenite? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Séimhíonn sibhYou lenite | Ní shéimhíonn sibhYou do not lenite | An séimhíonn sibh?Do you lenite? |
| siad (they) | Séimhíonn siadThey lenite | Ní shéimhíonn siadThey do not lenite | An séimhíonn siad?Do they lenite? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Séimhítear | Ní shéimhítear | An séimhítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Séimheoidh méI will lenite | Ní shéimheoidh méI will not lenite | An séimheoidh mé?Will I lenite? |
| tú (you) | Séimheoidh túYou will lenite | Ní shéimheoidh túYou will not lenite | An séimheoidh tú?Will you lenite? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Séimheoidh sé / síHe will lenite | Ní shéimheoidh sé / síHe will not lenite | An séimheoidh sé / sí?Will he lenite? |
| sinn (we) | SéimheoimidWe will lenite | Ní shéimheoimidWe will not lenite | An séimheoimid?Will we lenite? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Séimheoidh sibhYou will lenite | Ní shéimheoidh sibhYou will not lenite | An séimheoidh sibh?Will you lenite? |
| siad (they) | Séimheoidh siadThey will lenite | Ní shéimheoidh siadThey will not lenite | An séimheoidh siad?Will they lenite? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Séimheofar | Ní shéimheofar | An séimheofar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ShéimheoinnI would lenite | Ní shéimheoinnI would not lenite | An séimheoinn?Would I lenite? |
| tú (you) | ShéimheofáYou would lenite | Ní shéimheofáYou would not lenite | An séimheofá?Would you lenite? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Shéimheodh sé / síHe would lenite | Ní shéimheodh sé / síHe would not lenite | An séimheodh sé / sí?Would he lenite? |
| sinn (we) | ShéimheoimisWe would lenite | Ní shéimheoimisWe would not lenite | An séimheoimis?Would we lenite? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Shéimheodh sibhYou would lenite | Ní shéimheodh sibhYou would not lenite | An séimheodh sibh?Would you lenite? |
| siad (they) | ShéimheoidísThey would lenite | Ní shéimheoidísThey would not lenite | An séimheoidís?Would they lenite? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Shéimheofaí | Ní shéimheofaí | An séimheofaí? |
“Séimhigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Shéimhigh mé an t-ainmfhocal tar éis 'mo'.
I lenited the noun after 'mo'.
Séimhíonn an aidiacht i ndiaidh ainmfhocal baininscneach.
The adjective is lenited after a feminine noun.
Séimheoidh tú an briathar san aimsir chaite.
You will lenite the verb in the past tense.
Shéimheodh an múinteoir an focal sin, is dócha.
The teacher would probably lenite that word.
Ní shéimhíonn tú 'd', 't' ná 's' i ndiaidh 'n'.
You don't lenite 'd', 't' or 's' after 'n'.
Ar shéimhigh tú an focal i ndiaidh 'a' sealbhach?
Did you lenite the word after possessive 'a'?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To lenite in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to lenite?
The Irish for to lenite is séimhigh (pronounced “SHAY-vee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is séimhiú.
What is the verbal noun of séimhigh?
The verbal noun of séimhigh is séimhiú, used after ag for the continuous: ag séimhiú (leniting). The verbal adjective is séimhithe.
How do you say séimhigh in the past and the future?
Past: Shéimhigh mé; negative Níor shéimhigh mé; question Ar shéimhigh mé?. Future: Séimheoidh mé; negative Ní shéimheoidh mé; question An séimheoidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of séimhigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Shéimheoinn (I would lenite); negative Ní shéimheoinn; question An séimheoinn?.
Does séimhigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Séimhigh can mean to lenite, to soften or to thin, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'séimhigh' and 'urghaigh'?
'Séimhigh' means to lenite, as in 'bád' becoming 'mo bhád', while 'uraigh' means to eclipse, as in 'ár mbád'.
