HeyRuaHow to say “to widen” in Irish
- Irish:
- leathnaigh
- English:
- to widen, spread, extend
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- leathnú (ag leathnú, widening)
- Verbal adjective:
- leathnaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “LAH-nee” /ˈl̠ʲahn̪ˠiː/
What does “leathnaigh” mean?
“Leathnaigh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to widen
- To make something wider or broader, or to become wider.Also: broaden, expand, dilate.
2 other meanings: spread or extend
- 2to spread
- To spread out or extend over a larger area, as news, disease or a substance does.Also: spread out, extend, propagate.
- 3to extend
- To make something larger in scope or reach, such as a service or a business.Also: expand, enlarge.
“Leathnaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Leathnaigh méI widened | Níor leathnaigh méI did not widen | Ar leathnaigh mé?Did I widen? |
| tú (you) | Leathnaigh túYou widened | Níor leathnaigh túYou did not widen | Ar leathnaigh tú?Did you widen? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Leathnaigh sé / síHe widened | Níor leathnaigh sé / síHe did not widen | Ar leathnaigh sé / sí?Did he widen? |
| sinn (we) | LeathnaíomarWe widened | Níor leathnaíomarWe did not widen | Ar leathnaíomar?Did we widen? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Leathnaigh sibhYou widened | Níor leathnaigh sibhYou did not widen | Ar leathnaigh sibh?Did you widen? |
| siad (they) | Leathnaigh siadThey widened | Níor leathnaigh siadThey did not widen | Ar leathnaigh siad?Did they widen? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Leathnaíodh | Níor leathnaíodh | Ar leathnaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | LeathnaímI widen | Ní leathnaímI do not widen | An leathnaím?Do I widen? |
| tú (you) | Leathnaíonn túYou widen | Ní leathnaíonn túYou do not widen | An leathnaíonn tú?Do you widen? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Leathnaíonn sé / síHe widens | Ní leathnaíonn sé / síHe does not widen | An leathnaíonn sé / sí?Does he widen? |
| sinn (we) | LeathnaímidWe widen | Ní leathnaímidWe do not widen | An leathnaímid?Do we widen? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Leathnaíonn sibhYou widen | Ní leathnaíonn sibhYou do not widen | An leathnaíonn sibh?Do you widen? |
| siad (they) | Leathnaíonn siadThey widen | Ní leathnaíonn siadThey do not widen | An leathnaíonn siad?Do they widen? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Leathnaítear | Ní leathnaítear | An leathnaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Leathnóidh méI will widen | Ní leathnóidh méI will not widen | An leathnóidh mé?Will I widen? |
| tú (you) | Leathnóidh túYou will widen | Ní leathnóidh túYou will not widen | An leathnóidh tú?Will you widen? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Leathnóidh sé / síHe will widen | Ní leathnóidh sé / síHe will not widen | An leathnóidh sé / sí?Will he widen? |
| sinn (we) | LeathnóimidWe will widen | Ní leathnóimidWe will not widen | An leathnóimid?Will we widen? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Leathnóidh sibhYou will widen | Ní leathnóidh sibhYou will not widen | An leathnóidh sibh?Will you widen? |
| siad (they) | Leathnóidh siadThey will widen | Ní leathnóidh siadThey will not widen | An leathnóidh siad?Will they widen? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Leathnófar | Ní leathnófar | An leathnófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | LeathnóinnI would widen | Ní leathnóinnI would not widen | An leathnóinn?Would I widen? |
| tú (you) | LeathnófáYou would widen | Ní leathnófáYou would not widen | An leathnófá?Would you widen? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Leathnódh sé / síHe would widen | Ní leathnódh sé / síHe would not widen | An leathnódh sé / sí?Would he widen? |
| sinn (we) | LeathnóimisWe would widen | Ní leathnóimisWe would not widen | An leathnóimis?Would we widen? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Leathnódh sibhYou would widen | Ní leathnódh sibhYou would not widen | An leathnódh sibh?Would you widen? |
| siad (they) | LeathnóidísThey would widen | Ní leathnóidísThey would not widen | An leathnóidís?Would they widen? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Leathnófaí | Ní leathnófaí | An leathnófaí? |
“Leathnaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Leathnaigh siad an bóthar anuraidh.
They widened the road last year.
Leathnaíonn an scéal ar fud an bhaile go tapa.
The story spreads around the town quickly.
Leathnóidh an comhlacht a ghnó go dtí an Fhrainc.
The company will extend its business to France.
Leathnódh an tine dá mbeadh an ghaoth láidir.
The fire would spread if the wind were strong.
Níor leathnaigh an galar go dtí an chathair.
The disease didn't spread to the city.
Ar leathnaigh siad an droichead fós?
Have they widened the bridge yet?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To widen in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to widen?
The Irish for to widen is leathnaigh (pronounced “LAH-nee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is leathnú.
What is the verbal noun of leathnaigh?
The verbal noun of leathnaigh is leathnú, used after ag for the continuous: ag leathnú (widening). The verbal adjective is leathnaithe.
How do you say leathnaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Leathnaigh mé; negative Níor leathnaigh mé; question Ar leathnaigh mé?. Future: Leathnóidh mé; negative Ní leathnóidh mé; question An leathnóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of leathnaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Leathnóinn (I would widen); negative Ní leathnóinn; question An leathnóinn?.
Does leathnaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Leathnaigh can mean to widen, to spread or to extend, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'leathnaigh' and 'scaip'?
'Leathnaigh' means to widen or spread out gradually over a larger area, as in 'leathnaigh an galar'. 'Scaip' means to scatter or disperse, as in 'scaip an slua'.
What is the opposite of 'leathnaigh'?
The opposite is 'cúngaigh' or 'caolaigh', to narrow, as in 'cúngaigh an bóthar'.
