HeyRuaHow to say “to swim” in Irish
- Irish:
- snámh
- English:
- to swim, float, crawl
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- snámh (ag snámh, swimming)
- Verbal adjective:
- snáfa
- Pronunciation:
- “snawv” /sn̪ˠɑːvˠ/
What does “snámh” mean?
“Snámh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to swim
- To move through water using your arms and legs.Also: go swimming, swim across.
2 other meanings: float or crawl
- 2to float
- To drift or float on water or in the air.Also: drift, glide.
- 3to crawl
- To creep or crawl slowly, as an insect does.Also: creep.
“Snámh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Shnámh méI swam | Níor shnámh méI did not swim | Ar shnámh mé?Did I swim? |
| tú (you) | Shnámh túYou swam | Níor shnámh túYou did not swim | Ar shnámh tú?Did you swim? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Shnámh sé / síHe swam | Níor shnámh sé / síHe did not swim | Ar shnámh sé / sí?Did he swim? |
| sinn (we) | ShnámhamarWe swam | Níor shnámhamarWe did not swim | Ar shnámhamar?Did we swim? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Shnámh sibhYou swam | Níor shnámh sibhYou did not swim | Ar shnámh sibh?Did you swim? |
| siad (they) | Shnámh siadThey swam | Níor shnámh siadThey did not swim | Ar shnámh siad?Did they swim? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Snámhadh | Níor snámhadh | Ar snámhadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SnámhaimI swim | Ní shnámhaimI do not swim | An snámhaim?Do I swim? |
| tú (you) | Snámhann túYou swim | Ní shnámhann túYou do not swim | An snámhann tú?Do you swim? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Snámhann sé / síHe swims | Ní shnámhann sé / síHe does not swim | An snámhann sé / sí?Does he swim? |
| sinn (we) | SnámhaimidWe swim | Ní shnámhaimidWe do not swim | An snámhaimid?Do we swim? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Snámhann sibhYou swim | Ní shnámhann sibhYou do not swim | An snámhann sibh?Do you swim? |
| siad (they) | Snámhann siadThey swim | Ní shnámhann siadThey do not swim | An snámhann siad?Do they swim? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Snámhtar | Ní shnámhtar | An snámhtar? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Snámhfaidh méI will swim | Ní shnámhfaidh méI will not swim | An snámhfaidh mé?Will I swim? |
| tú (you) | Snámhfaidh túYou will swim | Ní shnámhfaidh túYou will not swim | An snámhfaidh tú?Will you swim? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Snámhfaidh sé / síHe will swim | Ní shnámhfaidh sé / síHe will not swim | An snámhfaidh sé / sí?Will he swim? |
| sinn (we) | SnámhfaimidWe will swim | Ní shnámhfaimidWe will not swim | An snámhfaimid?Will we swim? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Snámhfaidh sibhYou will swim | Ní shnámhfaidh sibhYou will not swim | An snámhfaidh sibh?Will you swim? |
| siad (they) | Snámhfaidh siadThey will swim | Ní shnámhfaidh siadThey will not swim | An snámhfaidh siad?Will they swim? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Snámhfar | Ní shnámhfar | An snámhfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ShnámhfainnI would swim | Ní shnámhfainnI would not swim | An snámhfainn?Would I swim? |
| tú (you) | ShnámhfáYou would swim | Ní shnámhfáYou would not swim | An snámhfá?Would you swim? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Shnámhfadh sé / síHe would swim | Ní shnámhfadh sé / síHe would not swim | An snámhfadh sé / sí?Would he swim? |
| sinn (we) | ShnámhfaimisWe would swim | Ní shnámhfaimisWe would not swim | An snámhfaimis?Would we swim? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Shnámhfadh sibhYou would swim | Ní shnámhfadh sibhYou would not swim | An snámhfadh sibh?Would you swim? |
| siad (they) | ShnámhfaidísThey would swim | Ní shnámhfaidísThey would not swim | An snámhfaidís?Would they swim? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Shnámhfaí | Ní shnámhfaí | An snámhfaí? |
“Snámh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To swim in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to swim?
The Irish for to swim is snámh (pronounced “snawv”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is snámh.
What is the verbal noun of snámh?
The verbal noun of snámh is snámh, used after ag for the continuous: ag snámh (swimming). The verbal adjective is snáfa.
How do you say snámh in the past and the future?
Past: Shnámh mé; negative Níor shnámh mé; question Ar shnámh mé?. Future: Snámhfaidh mé; negative Ní shnámhfaidh mé; question An snámhfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of snámh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Shnámhfainn (I would swim); negative Ní shnámhfainn; question An snámhfainn?.
Does snámh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Snámh can mean to swim, to float or to crawl, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'I can swim' in Irish?
Use the verbal noun with 'ag': 'Tá snámh agam' means I can swim, and 'An bhfuil snámh agat?' asks whether you can swim.
How do I say 'go swimming'?
Say 'dul ag snámh', for example 'Téim ag snámh gach lá' means I go swimming every day.
