HeyRuaHow to say “to ordain” in Irish
- Irish:
- oirnigh
- English:
- to ordain, inaugurate
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- oirniú (ag oirniú, ordaining)
- Verbal adjective:
- oirnithe
- Pronunciation:
- “UR-nee” /ˈoɾʲnʲiː/
What does “oirnigh” mean?
“Oirnigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to ordain
- To make someone a priest or minister in a religious ceremony.Also: make a priest, consecrate.
1 other meaning: inaugurate
- 2to inaugurate
- To install someone formally in a high office, such as a king or chief.Also: install, crown, invest.
“Oirnigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'oirnigh méI ordained | Níor oirnigh méI did not ordain | Ar oirnigh mé?Did I ordain? |
| tú (you) | D'oirnigh túYou ordained | Níor oirnigh túYou did not ordain | Ar oirnigh tú?Did you ordain? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'oirnigh sé / síHe ordained | Níor oirnigh sé / síHe did not ordain | Ar oirnigh sé / sí?Did he ordain? |
| sinn (we) | D'oirníomarWe ordained | Níor oirníomarWe did not ordain | Ar oirníomar?Did we ordain? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'oirnigh sibhYou ordained | Níor oirnigh sibhYou did not ordain | Ar oirnigh sibh?Did you ordain? |
| siad (they) | D'oirnigh siadThey ordained | Níor oirnigh siadThey did not ordain | Ar oirnigh siad?Did they ordain? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Oirníodh | Níor oirníodh | Ar oirníodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | OirnímI ordain | Ní oirnímI do not ordain | An oirním?Do I ordain? |
| tú (you) | Oirníonn túYou ordain | Ní oirníonn túYou do not ordain | An oirníonn tú?Do you ordain? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Oirníonn sé / síHe ordains | Ní oirníonn sé / síHe does not ordain | An oirníonn sé / sí?Does he ordain? |
| sinn (we) | OirnímidWe ordain | Ní oirnímidWe do not ordain | An oirnímid?Do we ordain? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Oirníonn sibhYou ordain | Ní oirníonn sibhYou do not ordain | An oirníonn sibh?Do you ordain? |
| siad (they) | Oirníonn siadThey ordain | Ní oirníonn siadThey do not ordain | An oirníonn siad?Do they ordain? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Oirnítear | Ní oirnítear | An oirnítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Oirneoidh méI will ordain | Ní oirneoidh méI will not ordain | An oirneoidh mé?Will I ordain? |
| tú (you) | Oirneoidh túYou will ordain | Ní oirneoidh túYou will not ordain | An oirneoidh tú?Will you ordain? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Oirneoidh sé / síHe will ordain | Ní oirneoidh sé / síHe will not ordain | An oirneoidh sé / sí?Will he ordain? |
| sinn (we) | OirneoimidWe will ordain | Ní oirneoimidWe will not ordain | An oirneoimid?Will we ordain? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Oirneoidh sibhYou will ordain | Ní oirneoidh sibhYou will not ordain | An oirneoidh sibh?Will you ordain? |
| siad (they) | Oirneoidh siadThey will ordain | Ní oirneoidh siadThey will not ordain | An oirneoidh siad?Will they ordain? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Oirneofar | Ní oirneofar | An oirneofar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'oirneoinnI would ordain | Ní oirneoinnI would not ordain | An oirneoinn?Would I ordain? |
| tú (you) | D'oirneofáYou would ordain | Ní oirneofáYou would not ordain | An oirneofá?Would you ordain? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'oirneodh sé / síHe would ordain | Ní oirneodh sé / síHe would not ordain | An oirneodh sé / sí?Would he ordain? |
| sinn (we) | D'oirneoimisWe would ordain | Ní oirneoimisWe would not ordain | An oirneoimis?Would we ordain? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'oirneodh sibhYou would ordain | Ní oirneodh sibhYou would not ordain | An oirneodh sibh?Would you ordain? |
| siad (they) | D'oirneoidísThey would ordain | Ní oirneoidísThey would not ordain | An oirneoidís?Would they ordain? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | D'oirneofaí | Ní oirneofaí | An oirneofaí? |
“Oirnigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
D'oirnigh an t-easpag beirt shagart inné.
The bishop ordained two priests yesterday.
Oirníonn siad sagairt nua gach samhradh.
They ordain new priests every summer.
Oirneoidh an t-easpag é i mí Iúil.
The bishop will ordain him in July.
D'oirneodh sé iad dá mbeidís réidh.
He would ordain them if they were ready.
Níor oirníodh aon sagart sa pharóiste i mbliana.
No priest was ordained in the parish this year.
Ar oirníodh do dheartháir fós?
Has your brother been ordained yet?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To ordain in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to ordain?
The Irish for to ordain is oirnigh (pronounced “UR-nee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is oirniú.
What is the verbal noun of oirnigh?
The verbal noun of oirnigh is oirniú, used after ag for the continuous: ag oirniú (ordaining). The verbal adjective is oirnithe.
How do you say oirnigh in the past and the future?
Past: D'oirnigh mé; negative Níor oirnigh mé; question Ar oirnigh mé?. Future: Oirneoidh mé; negative Ní oirneoidh mé; question An oirneoidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of oirnigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is D'oirneoinn (I would ordain); negative Ní oirneoinn; question An oirneoinn?.
Does oirnigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Oirnigh can mean to ordain or to inaugurate, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do you say someone was ordained a priest?
Use the autonomous form with 'ina': 'Oirníodh ina shagart é', he was ordained a priest.
