HeyRuaHow to say “to witness” in Irish
- Irish:
- fianaigh
- English:
- to witness, testify
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- fianú (ag fianú, witnessing)
- Verbal adjective:
- fianaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “FEE-uh-nee” /ˈfʲiənˠiː/
What does “fianaigh” mean?
“Fianaigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to witness
- To act as a witness to something, especially by signing a document to confirm it is genuine.Also: attest, certify, testify to.
1 other meaning: testify
- 2to testify
- To give evidence or bear witness that something is true.Also: bear witness, give evidence.
“Fianaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'fhianaigh méI witnessed | Níor fhianaigh méI did not witness | Ar fhianaigh mé?Did I witness? |
| tú (you) | D'fhianaigh túYou witnessed | Níor fhianaigh túYou did not witness | Ar fhianaigh tú?Did you witness? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'fhianaigh sé / síHe witnessed | Níor fhianaigh sé / síHe did not witness | Ar fhianaigh sé / sí?Did he witness? |
| sinn (we) | D'fhianaíomarWe witnessed | Níor fhianaíomarWe did not witness | Ar fhianaíomar?Did we witness? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'fhianaigh sibhYou witnessed | Níor fhianaigh sibhYou did not witness | Ar fhianaigh sibh?Did you witness? |
| siad (they) | D'fhianaigh siadThey witnessed | Níor fhianaigh siadThey did not witness | Ar fhianaigh siad?Did they witness? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Fianaíodh | Níor fianaíodh | Ar fianaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | FianaímI witness | Ní fhianaímI do not witness | An bhfianaím?Do I witness? |
| tú (you) | Fianaíonn túYou witness | Ní fhianaíonn túYou do not witness | An bhfianaíonn tú?Do you witness? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Fianaíonn sé / síHe witnesses | Ní fhianaíonn sé / síHe does not witness | An bhfianaíonn sé / sí?Does he witness? |
| sinn (we) | FianaímidWe witness | Ní fhianaímidWe do not witness | An bhfianaímid?Do we witness? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Fianaíonn sibhYou witness | Ní fhianaíonn sibhYou do not witness | An bhfianaíonn sibh?Do you witness? |
| siad (they) | Fianaíonn siadThey witness | Ní fhianaíonn siadThey do not witness | An bhfianaíonn siad?Do they witness? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Fianaítear | Ní fhianaítear | An bhfianaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Fianóidh méI will witness | Ní fhianóidh méI will not witness | An bhfianóidh mé?Will I witness? |
| tú (you) | Fianóidh túYou will witness | Ní fhianóidh túYou will not witness | An bhfianóidh tú?Will you witness? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Fianóidh sé / síHe will witness | Ní fhianóidh sé / síHe will not witness | An bhfianóidh sé / sí?Will he witness? |
| sinn (we) | FianóimidWe will witness | Ní fhianóimidWe will not witness | An bhfianóimid?Will we witness? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Fianóidh sibhYou will witness | Ní fhianóidh sibhYou will not witness | An bhfianóidh sibh?Will you witness? |
| siad (they) | Fianóidh siadThey will witness | Ní fhianóidh siadThey will not witness | An bhfianóidh siad?Will they witness? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Fianófar | Ní fhianófar | An bhfianófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | D'fhianóinnI would witness | Ní fhianóinnI would not witness | An bhfianóinn?Would I witness? |
| tú (you) | D'fhianófáYou would witness | Ní fhianófáYou would not witness | An bhfianófá?Would you witness? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | D'fhianódh sé / síHe would witness | Ní fhianódh sé / síHe would not witness | An bhfianódh sé / sí?Would he witness? |
| sinn (we) | D'fhianóimisWe would witness | Ní fhianóimisWe would not witness | An bhfianóimis?Would we witness? |
| sibh (you, plural) | D'fhianódh sibhYou would witness | Ní fhianódh sibhYou would not witness | An bhfianódh sibh?Would you witness? |
| siad (they) | D'fhianóidísThey would witness | Ní fhianóidísThey would not witness | An bhfianóidís?Would they witness? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | D'fhianófaí | Ní fhianófaí | An bhfianófaí? |
“Fianaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
D'fhianaigh an dlíodóir an uacht inné.
The solicitor witnessed the will yesterday.
Fianaíonn sé gach conradh a shíníonn siad.
He witnesses every contract they sign.
Fianóidh mé do shíniú amárach.
I will witness your signature tomorrow.
D'fhianódh sí an doiciméad dá n-iarrfá uirthi.
She would witness the document if you asked her.
Níor fhianaigh aon duine an conradh.
Nobody witnessed the contract.
Ar fhianaigh tú an fhoirm sin?
Did you witness that form?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To witness in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to witness?
The Irish for to witness is fianaigh (pronounced “FEE-uh-nee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is fianú.
What is the verbal noun of fianaigh?
The verbal noun of fianaigh is fianú, used after ag for the continuous: ag fianú (witnessing). The verbal adjective is fianaithe.
How do you say fianaigh in the past and the future?
Past: D'fhianaigh mé; negative Níor fhianaigh mé; question Ar fhianaigh mé?. Future: Fianóidh mé; negative Ní fhianóidh mé; question An bhfianóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of fianaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is D'fhianóinn (I would witness); negative Ní fhianóinn; question An bhfianóinn?.
Does fianaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Fianaigh can mean to witness or to testify, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the noun for a witness in Irish?
A witness is 'finné', and the verb 'fianaigh' means to witness or attest, as in 'd'fhianaigh sé an uacht'.
