donn

See also: Donn and dónn

Central Franconian

Alternative forms

don (northern Moselle Franconian, some Ripuarian dialects)
dun (southern Moselle Franconian)

Etymology

From Old High German *duon, northern variant of tuon, from Proto-Germanic *dōną.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /don/

Verb

donn (third-person singular present deet or deit, preterite dät, past participle jedon or jedonn)

(many dialects of Ripuarian, including Kölsch) to do
(same dialects) Used in the preterite with a following infinitive to form the paraphrastic preterite.
Ich dät us der Finster luure. ― I looked out the window.
(same dialects) Used in the subjunctive with a following infinitive to form the conditional tense.
Ich dät jo noch jet blieve, ävver meng Frau well heem.
I would stay some more, but my wife wants to go home.

Usage notes

The past participle has an open vowel /ɔ/, either long or short, but never /o/ as in the infinitive.
The paraphrastic preterite can be used with all verbs except auxiliaries and modals. It is preferred especially with regular verbs, though the regular preterite does remain functional in Ripuarian (unlike Moselle Franconian); thus alternatively: Ich luurten us der Finster. (“I looked out the window.”) As in colloquial Standard German the preterite as such is restricted semantically and syntactically, the past being predominantly expressed by the perfect tense.

Irish

Pronunciation

(Munster) IPA^(key): /d̪ˠoun̪ˠ/, /d̪ˠəun̪ˠ/
(Galway) IPA^(key): /d̪ˠaun̪ˠ/
(Mayo) IPA^(key): /d̪ˠʊn̪ˠ/
(Ulster) IPA^(key): /d̪ˠʌn̪ˠ/

Etymology 1

From Old Irish donn, from Proto-Celtic *dusnos (“brown”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewh₂- (“smoke”).

Adjective

donn (genitive singular masculine doinn, genitive singular feminine doinne, plural donna, comparative doinne)

brown
brown-haired, brunette
made of hard brown timber
strong, solid
used as intensifying term

Declension

Declension of donn

Positive	Masculine	Feminine	(strong noun)	(weak noun)
	Singular		Plural (m/f)
Nominative	donn	dhonn	donna; dhonna²
Vocative	dhoinn	dhonn	donna
Genitive	dhoinn	doinne	donna	donn
Dative	donn; dhonn¹	dhonn; dhoinn (archaic)	donna; dhonna²
Comparative	níos doinne
Superlative	is doinne

¹ When the preceding noun is lenited and governed by the definite article.
² When the preceding noun ends in a slender consonant.

Obsolete spellings

Declension of donn

Positive	Masculine	Feminine	(strong noun)	(weak noun)
	Singular		Plural (m/f)
Nominative	donn	dhonn	donna; dhonna²
Vocative	dhuinn	dhonn	donna
Genitive	dhuinn	duinne	donna	donn
Dative	donn; dhonn¹	dhonn; dhuinn (archaic)	donna; dhonna²
Comparative	níos duinne
Superlative	is duinne

¹ When the preceding noun is lenited and governed by the definite article.
² When the preceding noun ends in a slender consonant.

Derived terms

abhac donn m (“brown dwarf”)
arán donn m (“brown bread”)
béar donn m (“brown bear”)
breac donn m (“brown trout”)
buídhonn (“fawn”, adjective)
donn- (“brownish”)
donnaigh (“brown; tan, rust”, verb)
donnrua (“brick red, chestnut; russet; bay”, adjective)
francach donn m (“brown rat”)
leann donn m (“brown ale”)
scothdhonn (“brownish”, adjective)

Noun

donn m or f (genitive singular doinn or doinne)

brown (colour)
brown animal (masculine or feminine declined differently)
hard brown timber

Declension

Declension of donn

First declension

Bare forms (no plural of this noun)

Case	Singular
Nominative	donn
Vocative	a dhoinn
Genitive	doinn
Dative	donn

Forms with the definite article:

Case	Singular
Nominative	an donn
Genitive	an doinn
Dative	leis an donn don donn

Feminine (only used to refer to a female brown animal)

Declension of donn

Second declension

Bare forms (no plural form of this noun)

Case	Singular
Nominative	donn
Vocative	a dhonn
Genitive	doinne
Dative	donn

Forms with the definite article

Case	Singular
Nominative	an donn
Genitive	na doinne
Dative	leis an donn don donn

Verb

donn (present analytic donnann, future analytic donnfaidh, verbal noun donnadh, past participle donnta)

(transitive, intransitive) Alternative form of donnaigh (“brown; tan, rust”)

Conjugation

First Conjugation (A)

		singular			plural			relative	autonomous
		first	second	third	first	second	third	relative	autonomous
indicative	present	donnim	donnann tú; donnir^†	donnann sé, sí	donnimid	donnann sibh	donnann siad; donnid^†	a dhonnann; a dhonnas / a ndonnann; a ndonnas	donntar
	past	dhonn mé; dhonnas	dhonn tú; dhonnis	dhonn sé, sí	dhonnamar; dhonn muid	dhonn sibh; dhonnabhair	dhonn siad; dhonnadar	a dhonn / ar dhonn*	donnadh
	past habitual	dhonninn / ndonninn‡‡	dhonntá / ndonntá‡‡	dhonnadh sé, sí / ndonnadh sé, sí‡‡	dhonnimis; dhonnadh muid / ndonnimis‡‡; ndonnadh muid‡‡	dhonnadh sibh / ndonnadh sibh‡‡	dhonnidís; dhonnadh siad / ndonnidís‡‡; ndonnadh siad‡‡	a dhonnadh / a ndonnadh*	dhonntí / ndonntí‡‡
	future	donnfidh mé; donnfad	donnfidh tú; donnfir^†	donnfidh sé, sí	donnfimid; donnfidh muid	donnfidh sibh	donnfidh siad; donnfid^†	a dhonnfidh; a dhonnfas / a ndonnfidh; a ndonnfas	donnfar
conditional		dhonnfinn / ndonnfinn‡‡	dhonnfá / ndonnfá‡‡	dhonnfadh sé, sí / ndonnfadh sé, sí‡‡	dhonnfimis; dhonnfadh muid / ndonnfimis‡‡; ndonnfadh muid‡‡	dhonnfadh sibh / ndonnfadh sibh‡‡	dhonnfidís; dhonnfadh siad / ndonnfidís‡‡; ndonnfadh siad‡‡	a dhonnfadh / a ndonnfadh*	dhonnfí / ndonnfí‡‡
subjunctive	present	go ndonn mé; go ndonnad^†	go ndonn tú; go ndonnir^†	go ndonn sé, sí	go ndonnimid; go ndonn muid	go ndonn sibh	go ndonn siad; go ndonnid^†	—	go ndonntar
subjunctive	past	dá ndonninn	dá ndonntá	dá ndonnadh sé, sí	dá ndonnimis; dá ndonnadh muid	dá ndonnadh sibh	dá ndonnidís; dá ndonnadh siad	—	dá ndonntí
imperative		donnim	donn	donnadh sé, sí	donnimis	donnigí; donnidh^†	donnidís	—	donntar
verbal noun		donnadh
past participle		donnta

* Indirect relative
† Archaic or dialect form
‡‡ Dependent form used with particles that trigger eclipsis

Etymology 2

From Old Irish donn (“chief, lord, noble”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰus-no-.

Noun

donn m (genitive singular doinn, nominative plural doinn)

(literary) noble, prince

Declension

Declension of donn

First declension

Bare forms:

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	donn	doinn
Vocative	a dhoinn	a dhonna
Genitive	doinn	donn
Dative	donn	doinn

Forms with the definite article:

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	an donn	na doinn
Genitive	an doinn	na ndonn
Dative	leis an donn don donn	leis na doinn

Derived terms

Donn m (proper noun)

Noun

donn f (genitive singular doinne, nominative plural donna)

Alternative form of dronn (“hump; camber”)

Declension

Declension of donn

Second declension

Bare forms

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	donn	donna
Vocative	a dhonn	a dhonna
Genitive	doinne	donn
Dative	donn	donna

Forms with the definite article

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	an donn	na donna
Genitive	na doinne	na ndonn
Dative	leis an donn don donn	leis na donna

Mutation

Irish mutation
Radical	Lenition	Eclipsis
donn	dhonn	ndonn
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Maltese

Etymology

From Arabic. Probably the imperfect of ظَنَّ‎ (ẓanna, “to think, opine, conjecture”) in a phrase like أَظُنُّهُم مُتَضايِقِين (ʾaẓunnuhum mutaḍāyiqīn, “I think them despondent”). Then reconstrued as an adverb (or false verb). Alternatively from the related noun ظَنّ‎ (ẓann, “opinion, conjecture”), but this seems unlikely.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /dɔnn/

Adverb

donn-

seemingly, by appearance
Kienu donnhom imdejqin.
They seemed despondent.
(literally, “They were (by) their appearance despondent.”)
Donnok ma tifhimx.
You don’t seem to understand.
(literally, “(By) your appearance you don’t understand.”)

Usage notes

As above, the word takes pronominal suffixes according to the subject.

Old Irish

Alternative forms

dond

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /don͈/

Etymology 1

From Proto-Celtic *dusnos (“brown”).

Adjective

donn

brown, tawny, dun
(of eyes) hazel
(of animals) chestnut

Inflection

o/ā-stem
Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	donn	donn	donn
Vocative	duinn* donn**	donn
Accusative	donn	duinn
Genitive	duinn	duinne	duinn
Dative	donn	duinn	donn
Plural	Masculine	Feminine/neuter
Nominative	duinn	donna
Vocative	donnu donna†
Accusative	donnu donna†
Genitive	donn
Dative	donnaib
Notes	modifying a noun whose vocative is different from its nominative *modifying a noun whose vocative is identical to its nominative † not when substantivized

Alternative declension:

o/ā-stem
Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	donn	donn	donn
Vocative	doinn* donn**	donn
Accusative	donn	doinn
Genitive	doinn	doinne	doinn
Dative	donn	doinn	donn
Plural	Masculine	Feminine/neuter
Nominative	doinn	donna
Vocative	donnu donna†
Accusative	donnu donna†
Genitive	donn
Dative	donnaib
Notes	modifying a noun whose vocative is different from its nominative *modifying a noun whose vocative is identical to its nominative † not when substantivized

Descendants

Irish: donn
Manx: dhone
Scottish Gaelic: donn

Etymology 2

From Proto-Indo-European *dʰus-no-.

Noun

donn m

chief, lord, noble
Synonyms: mál, toísech, túathach
lordship, chieftainship
Synonyms: flaith, tigernas

Declension

Masculine o-stem
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	donn	donn^L	duinn^L
Vocative	duinn	donn^L	donnu^H
Accusative	donn^N	donn^L	donnu^H
Genitive	duinn^L	donn	donn^N
Dative	donn^L	donnaib	donnaib
Initial mutations of a following adjective: ^H = triggers aspiration ^L = triggers lenition ^N = triggers nasalization

Descendants

Irish: donn

Adjective

donn

princely, noble

Declension

o/ā-stem
Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	donn	donn	donn
Vocative	duinn* donn**	donn
Accusative	donn	duinn
Genitive	duinn	duinne	duinn
Dative	donn	duinn	donn
Plural	Masculine	Feminine/neuter
Nominative	duinn	donna
Vocative	donnu donna†
Accusative	donnu donna†
Genitive	donn
Dative	donnaib
Notes	modifying a noun whose vocative is different from its nominative *modifying a noun whose vocative is identical to its nominative † not when substantivized

Alternative declension

o/ā-stem
Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	donn	donn	donn
Vocative	doinn* donn**	donn
Accusative	donn	doinn
Genitive	doinn	doinne	doinn
Dative	donn	doinn	donn
Plural	Masculine	Feminine/neuter
Nominative	doinn	donna
Vocative	donnu donna†
Accusative	donnu donna†
Genitive	donn
Dative	donnaib
Notes	modifying a noun whose vocative is different from its nominative *modifying a noun whose vocative is identical to its nominative † not when substantivized

Etymology 3

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

donn (gender unknown, genitive duinn)

theft, stolen property

Inflection

Its gender is unknown, although Binchy in his edition of Críth Gablach provisionally treats it as neuter.

Neuter o-stem
	Singular	Dual	Plural
Nominative	donn^N	donn^N	donn^L, donna
Vocative	donn^N	donn^N	donn^L, donna
Accusative	donn^N	donn^N	donn^L, donna
Genitive	duinn^L	donn	donn^N
Dative	donn^L	donnaib	donnaib
Initial mutations of a following adjective: ^H = triggers aspiration ^L = triggers lenition ^N = triggers nasalization

Mutation

Old Irish mutation
Radical	Lenition	Nasalization
donn	donn pronounced with /ð(ʲ)-/	ndonn
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Plautdietsch

Adverb

donn

then, at that time

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

From Old Irish donn, from Proto-Celtic *dusnos (“brown”), from Proto-Indo-European *dusnos-, *donnos- (“dark”), from *dʰewh₂- (“smoke”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /t̪ɔun̪ˠ/

Adjective

donn (comparative duinne)

brown
brown-haired, brunette

Declension

Case	Masculine singular	Feminine singular	Plural
Nominative	donn	dhonn	donna
Vocative	dhuinn	dhonn	donna
Genitive	dhuinn	dhuinn/duinne	donna
Dative	dhonn	dhuinn	donna

Derived terms

comhachag-dhonn
dreathan donn

Mutation

Scottish Gaelic mutation
Radical	Lenition
donn	dhonn
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

donn

Central Franconian

Alternative forms

Etymology

Pronunciation

Verb

Usage notes

Irish

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

Adjective

Declension

Derived terms

Noun

Declension

Verb

Conjugation

Etymology 2

Noun

Declension

Derived terms

Noun

Declension

Mutation

Further reading

Maltese

Etymology

Pronunciation

Adverb

Usage notes

Old Irish

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

Adjective

Inflection

Descendants

Etymology 2

Noun

Declension

Descendants

Adjective

Declension

Etymology 3

Noun

Inflection

Mutation

Further reading

Plautdietsch

Adverb

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

Pronunciation

Adjective

Declension

Derived terms

Mutation

See also

Further reading