HeyRuaHow to say “to tell” in Irish
- Irish:
- inis
- English:
- to tell, relate
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- insint (ag insint, telling)
- Verbal adjective:
- inste
- Pronunciation:
- “IN-ish” /ˈinʲəʃ/
What does “inis” mean?
“Inis” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to tell
- To give someone information, news or a story in words.Also: inform, say to, let know.
1 other meaning: relate
- 2to relate
- To give an account of events, such as a story or what happened.Also: narrate, recount, describe.
Other Irish verbs for to tell: abair (say)
“Inis” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'inis méI told | Níor inis méI did not tell | Ar inis mé?Did I tell? |
| tú (you) | D'inis túYou told | Níor inis túYou did not tell | Ar inis tú?Did you tell? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'inis sé / síHe told | Níor inis sé / síHe did not tell | Ar inis sé / sí?Did he tell? |
| sinn (we) | D'insíomarWe told | Níor insíomarWe did not tell | Ar insíomar?Did we tell? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'inis sibhYou told | Níor inis sibhYou did not tell | Ar inis sibh?Did you tell? |
| siad (they) | D'inis siadThey told | Níor inis siadThey did not tell | Ar inis siad?Did they tell? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Insíodh | Níor insíodh | Ar insíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | InsímI tell | Ní insímI do not tell | An insím?Do I tell? |
| tú (you) | Insíonn túYou tell | Ní insíonn túYou do not tell | An insíonn tú?Do you tell? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Insíonn sé / síHe tells | Ní insíonn sé / síHe does not tell | An insíonn sé / sí?Does he tell? |
| sinn (we) | InsímidWe tell | Ní insímidWe do not tell | An insímid?Do we tell? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Insíonn sibhYou tell | Ní insíonn sibhYou do not tell | An insíonn sibh?Do you tell? |
| siad (they) | Insíonn siadThey tell | Ní insíonn siadThey do not tell | An insíonn siad?Do they tell? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Insítear | Ní insítear | An insítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Inseoidh méI will tell | Ní inseoidh méI will not tell | An inseoidh mé?Will I tell? |
| tú (you) | Inseoidh túYou will tell | Ní inseoidh túYou will not tell | An inseoidh tú?Will you tell? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Inseoidh sé / síHe will tell | Ní inseoidh sé / síHe will not tell | An inseoidh sé / sí?Will he tell? |
| sinn (we) | InseoimidWe will tell | Ní inseoimidWe will not tell | An inseoimid?Will we tell? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Inseoidh sibhYou will tell | Ní inseoidh sibhYou will not tell | An inseoidh sibh?Will you tell? |
| siad (they) | Inseoidh siadThey will tell | Ní inseoidh siadThey will not tell | An inseoidh siad?Will they tell? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Inseofar | Ní inseofar | An inseofar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'inseoinnI would tell | Ní inseoinnI would not tell | An inseoinn?Would I tell? |
| tú (you) | D'inseofáYou would tell | Ní inseofáYou would not tell | An inseofá?Would you tell? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'inseodh sé / síHe would tell | Ní inseodh sé / síHe would not tell | An inseodh sé / sí?Would he tell? |
| sinn (we) | D'inseoimisWe would tell | Ní inseoimisWe would not tell | An inseoimis?Would we tell? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'inseodh sibhYou would tell | Ní inseodh sibhYou would not tell | An inseodh sibh?Would you tell? |
| siad (they) | D'inseoidísThey would tell | Ní inseoidísThey would not tell | An inseoidís?Would they tell? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | D'inseofaí | Ní inseofaí | An inseofaí? |
“Inis” 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 tell in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to tell?
The Irish for to tell is inis (pronounced “IN-ish”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is insint.
What is the verbal noun of inis?
The verbal noun of inis is insint, used after ag for the continuous: ag insint (telling). The verbal adjective is inste.
How do you say inis in the past and the future?
Past: D'inis mé; negative Níor inis mé; question Ar inis mé?. Future: Inseoidh mé; negative Ní inseoidh mé; question An inseoidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of inis?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is D'inseoinn (I would tell); negative Ní inseoinn; question An inseoinn?.
Does inis have more than one meaning?
Yes. Inis can mean to tell or to relate, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What preposition do I use with 'inis' for the person told?
Use 'do': 'Inis dom é' means 'Tell me it', and 'D'inis sé do Mháire' means 'He told Máire'.
What is the difference between 'inis' and 'abair'?
'Inis' means to tell or relate, often a story or news ('inis scéal'), while 'abair' means to say ('abair é sin arís').
