HeyRuaHow to say “to remember” in Irish
- Irish:
- cuimhnigh
- English:
- to remember, think of, remind, commemorate
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- cuimhneamh (ag cuimhneamh, remembering)
- Verbal adjective:
- cuimhnithe
- Pronunciation:
- “KEEV-nig” /ˈkiːvʲnʲɪɟ/
What does “cuimhnigh” mean?
“Cuimhnigh” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to remember
- To bring something back to mind or keep it in your memory, usually with 'ar'.Also: recall, recollect, think back.
3 other meanings: think of or remind or commemorate
- 2to think of
- To think about or consider something, often a plan you might carry out.Also: consider, think about, contemplate.
- 3to remind
- To make someone remember something, with 'do' before the person reminded.Also: bring to mind.
- 4to commemorate
- To honour the memory of a person or event.Also: remember, honour the memory of.
“Cuimhnigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Chuimhnigh méI remembered | Níor chuimhnigh méI did not remember | Ar chuimhnigh mé?Did I remember? |
| tú (you) | Chuimhnigh túYou remembered | Níor chuimhnigh túYou did not remember | Ar chuimhnigh tú?Did you remember? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chuimhnigh sé / síHe remembered | Níor chuimhnigh sé / síHe did not remember | Ar chuimhnigh sé / sí?Did he remember? |
| sinn (we) | ChuimhníomarWe remembered | Níor chuimhníomarWe did not remember | Ar chuimhníomar?Did we remember? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chuimhnigh sibhYou remembered | Níor chuimhnigh sibhYou did not remember | Ar chuimhnigh sibh?Did you remember? |
| siad (they) | Chuimhnigh siadThey remembered | Níor chuimhnigh siadThey did not remember | Ar chuimhnigh siad?Did they remember? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cuimhníodh | Níor cuimhníodh | Ar cuimhníodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CuimhnímI remember | Ní chuimhnímI do not remember | An gcuimhním?Do I remember? |
| tú (you) | Cuimhníonn túYou remember | Ní chuimhníonn túYou do not remember | An gcuimhníonn tú?Do you remember? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cuimhníonn sé / síHe remembers | Ní chuimhníonn sé / síHe does not remember | An gcuimhníonn sé / sí?Does he remember? |
| sinn (we) | CuimhnímidWe remember | Ní chuimhnímidWe do not remember | An gcuimhnímid?Do we remember? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cuimhníonn sibhYou remember | Ní chuimhníonn sibhYou do not remember | An gcuimhníonn sibh?Do you remember? |
| siad (they) | Cuimhníonn siadThey remember | Ní chuimhníonn siadThey do not remember | An gcuimhníonn siad?Do they remember? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cuimhnítear | Ní chuimhnítear | An gcuimhnítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Cuimhneoidh méI will remember | Ní chuimhneoidh méI will not remember | An gcuimhneoidh mé?Will I remember? |
| tú (you) | Cuimhneoidh túYou will remember | Ní chuimhneoidh túYou will not remember | An gcuimhneoidh tú?Will you remember? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cuimhneoidh sé / síHe will remember | Ní chuimhneoidh sé / síHe will not remember | An gcuimhneoidh sé / sí?Will he remember? |
| sinn (we) | CuimhneoimidWe will remember | Ní chuimhneoimidWe will not remember | An gcuimhneoimid?Will we remember? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cuimhneoidh sibhYou will remember | Ní chuimhneoidh sibhYou will not remember | An gcuimhneoidh sibh?Will you remember? |
| siad (they) | Cuimhneoidh siadThey will remember | Ní chuimhneoidh siadThey will not remember | An gcuimhneoidh siad?Will they remember? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cuimhneofar | Ní chuimhneofar | An gcuimhneofar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChuimhneoinnI would remember | Ní chuimhneoinnI would not remember | An gcuimhneoinn?Would I remember? |
| tú (you) | ChuimhneofáYou would remember | Ní chuimhneofáYou would not remember | An gcuimhneofá?Would you remember? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chuimhneodh sé / síHe would remember | Ní chuimhneodh sé / síHe would not remember | An gcuimhneodh sé / sí?Would he remember? |
| sinn (we) | ChuimhneoimisWe would remember | Ní chuimhneoimisWe would not remember | An gcuimhneoimis?Would we remember? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chuimhneodh sibhYou would remember | Ní chuimhneodh sibhYou would not remember | An gcuimhneodh sibh?Would you remember? |
| siad (they) | ChuimhneoidísThey would remember | Ní chuimhneoidísThey would not remember | An gcuimhneoidís?Would they remember? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Chuimhneofaí | Ní chuimhneofaí | An gcuimhneofaí? |
“Cuimhnigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Chuimhnigh mé ar a hainm ar maidin.
I remembered her name this morning.
Cuimhníonn sé ar laethanta a óige go minic.
He often thinks back on the days of his youth.
Cuimhneoidh mé ort gach lá.
I will remember you every day.
Chuimhneodh sí air dá gcuirfeá ina luí uirthi é.
She would remember it if you reminded her.
Níor chuimhnigh mé ar an eochair a thabhairt liom.
I didn't remember to bring the key.
Ar chuimhnigh tú ar an mbainne a cheannach?
Did you remember to buy the milk?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To remember in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to remember?
The Irish for to remember is cuimhnigh (pronounced “KEEV-nig”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is cuimhneamh.
What is the verbal noun of cuimhnigh?
The verbal noun of cuimhnigh is cuimhneamh, used after ag for the continuous: ag cuimhneamh (remembering). The verbal adjective is cuimhnithe.
How do you say cuimhnigh in the past and the future?
Past: Chuimhnigh mé; negative Níor chuimhnigh mé; question Ar chuimhnigh mé?. Future: Cuimhneoidh mé; negative Ní chuimhneoidh mé; question An gcuimhneoidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of cuimhnigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Chuimhneoinn (I would remember); negative Ní chuimhneoinn; question An gcuimhneoinn?.
Does cuimhnigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cuimhnigh can mean to remember, to think of, to remind or to commemorate, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Which preposition goes with 'cuimhnigh'?
It normally takes 'ar': 'Cuimhnigh ar do mháthair', remember your mother. To remember to do something you also use 'ar': 'chuimhnigh mé ar é a dhéanamh'.
What is the difference between 'cuimhnigh' and 'smaoinigh'?
'Cuimhnigh' is mainly to remember, though 'ag cuimhneamh ar' can mean considering a plan. 'Smaoinigh' is the general verb for to think.
