HeyRuaHow to say “to preserve” in Irish
- Irish:
- caomhnaigh
- English:
- to preserve, maintain, reserve
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- caomhnú (ag caomhnú, preserving)
- Verbal adjective:
- caomhnaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “KEEV-nee” /ˈkiːvˠnˠiː/
What does “caomhnaigh” mean?
“Caomhnaigh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to preserve
- To keep something safe from harm, loss or decay.Also: conserve, protect, save.
2 other meanings: maintain or reserve
- 2to maintain
- To keep something in good condition or keep it going.Also: keep up, sustain.
- 3to reserve
- To keep something back or set it aside, especially a right.Also: retain, keep back.
“Caomhnaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Chaomhnaigh méI preserved | Níor chaomhnaigh méI did not preserve | Ar chaomhnaigh mé?Did I preserve? |
| tú (you) | Chaomhnaigh túYou preserved | Níor chaomhnaigh túYou did not preserve | Ar chaomhnaigh tú?Did you preserve? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chaomhnaigh sé / síHe preserved | Níor chaomhnaigh sé / síHe did not preserve | Ar chaomhnaigh sé / sí?Did he preserve? |
| sinn (we) | ChaomhnaíomarWe preserved | Níor chaomhnaíomarWe did not preserve | Ar chaomhnaíomar?Did we preserve? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chaomhnaigh sibhYou preserved | Níor chaomhnaigh sibhYou did not preserve | Ar chaomhnaigh sibh?Did you preserve? |
| siad (they) | Chaomhnaigh siadThey preserved | Níor chaomhnaigh siadThey did not preserve | Ar chaomhnaigh siad?Did they preserve? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Caomhnaíodh | Níor caomhnaíodh | Ar caomhnaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CaomhnaímI preserve | Ní chaomhnaímI do not preserve | An gcaomhnaím?Do I preserve? |
| tú (you) | Caomhnaíonn túYou preserve | Ní chaomhnaíonn túYou do not preserve | An gcaomhnaíonn tú?Do you preserve? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Caomhnaíonn sé / síHe preserves | Ní chaomhnaíonn sé / síHe does not preserve | An gcaomhnaíonn sé / sí?Does he preserve? |
| sinn (we) | CaomhnaímidWe preserve | Ní chaomhnaímidWe do not preserve | An gcaomhnaímid?Do we preserve? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Caomhnaíonn sibhYou preserve | Ní chaomhnaíonn sibhYou do not preserve | An gcaomhnaíonn sibh?Do you preserve? |
| siad (they) | Caomhnaíonn siadThey preserve | Ní chaomhnaíonn siadThey do not preserve | An gcaomhnaíonn siad?Do they preserve? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Caomhnaítear | Ní chaomhnaítear | An gcaomhnaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Caomhnóidh méI will preserve | Ní chaomhnóidh méI will not preserve | An gcaomhnóidh mé?Will I preserve? |
| tú (you) | Caomhnóidh túYou will preserve | Ní chaomhnóidh túYou will not preserve | An gcaomhnóidh tú?Will you preserve? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Caomhnóidh sé / síHe will preserve | Ní chaomhnóidh sé / síHe will not preserve | An gcaomhnóidh sé / sí?Will he preserve? |
| sinn (we) | CaomhnóimidWe will preserve | Ní chaomhnóimidWe will not preserve | An gcaomhnóimid?Will we preserve? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Caomhnóidh sibhYou will preserve | Ní chaomhnóidh sibhYou will not preserve | An gcaomhnóidh sibh?Will you preserve? |
| siad (they) | Caomhnóidh siadThey will preserve | Ní chaomhnóidh siadThey will not preserve | An gcaomhnóidh siad?Will they preserve? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Caomhnófar | Ní chaomhnófar | An gcaomhnófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChaomhnóinnI would preserve | Ní chaomhnóinnI would not preserve | An gcaomhnóinn?Would I preserve? |
| tú (you) | ChaomhnófáYou would preserve | Ní chaomhnófáYou would not preserve | An gcaomhnófá?Would you preserve? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chaomhnódh sé / síHe would preserve | Ní chaomhnódh sé / síHe would not preserve | An gcaomhnódh sé / sí?Would he preserve? |
| sinn (we) | ChaomhnóimisWe would preserve | Ní chaomhnóimisWe would not preserve | An gcaomhnóimis?Would we preserve? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chaomhnódh sibhYou would preserve | Ní chaomhnódh sibhYou would not preserve | An gcaomhnódh sibh?Would you preserve? |
| siad (they) | ChaomhnóidísThey would preserve | Ní chaomhnóidísThey would not preserve | An gcaomhnóidís?Would they preserve? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Chaomhnófaí | Ní chaomhnófaí | An gcaomhnófaí? |
“Caomhnaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Chaomhnaigh siad an seanteach go cúramach.
They carefully preserved the old house.
Caomhnaíonn an pháirc náisiúnta an dúlra áitiúil.
The national park conserves the local wildlife.
Caomhnóidh an eagraíocht na lámhscríbhinní.
The organisation will preserve the manuscripts.
Chaomhnódh sé an teanga dá mbeadh an t-airgead aige.
He would preserve the language if he had the money.
Níor caomhnaíodh an foirgneamh, ar an drochuair.
The building was not preserved, unfortunately.
Ar chaomhnaigh siad na crainn sa choill?
Did they conserve the trees in the wood?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To preserve in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to preserve?
The Irish for to preserve is caomhnaigh (pronounced “KEEV-nee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is caomhnú.
What is the verbal noun of caomhnaigh?
The verbal noun of caomhnaigh is caomhnú, used after ag for the continuous: ag caomhnú (preserving). The verbal adjective is caomhnaithe.
How do you say caomhnaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Chaomhnaigh mé; negative Níor chaomhnaigh mé; question Ar chaomhnaigh mé?. Future: Caomhnóidh mé; negative Ní chaomhnóidh mé; question An gcaomhnóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of caomhnaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Chaomhnóinn (I would preserve); negative Ní chaomhnóinn; question An gcaomhnóinn?.
Does caomhnaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Caomhnaigh can mean to preserve, to maintain or to reserve, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between caomhnaigh and cosain?
Caomhnaigh means to preserve or conserve something over time, as in caomhnú na timpeallachta, while cosain means to defend or protect against an attack or threat.
