HeyRuaHow to say “civil” in Irish
- Irish:
- sibhialta
- English:
- civil, polite, civilised
- Word type:
- adjective
- More civil:
- níos sibhialta
- Most civil:
- is sibhialta
- Pronunciation:
- “SHIV-ee-al-ta” /ˈʃɪvʲiəl̪ˠt̪ˠə/
What does “sibhialta” mean?
“Sibhialta” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- civil
- Relating to citizens or ordinary society, as opposed to the military or the church.Also: civilian, non-military.
2 other meanings: polite or civilised
- 2polite
- Behaving in a courteous, well-mannered way towards others.Also: civil, courteous, well-mannered.
- 3civilised
- Living in an orderly, developed society with good manners and culture.Also: cultured, refined.
Other Irish adjectives for civil: cathartha (civil)
“Sibhialta” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is sibhialta after cogadh (war, masculine), after scéim (scheme, feminine) and after a plural.
séimhiú (the h) the ending
After a feminine noun the adjective gets a séimhiú, an h after its first letter: scéim shibhialta. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: cogadh sibhialta.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, sibhialta. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: scéimeanna sibhialta.
More civil, most civil, very civil
Bhí sé níos sibhialta ná a dheartháir. He was more polite than his brother.
| more civil | níos sibhialta | in the past tense: ní ba shibhialta |
|---|---|---|
| most civil | is sibhialta | in the past tense: ba shibhialta |
| as civil as | chomh sibhialta le | no change after chomh |
| very civil | an-sibhialta | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too civil | róshibhialta | ró- lenites |
“Sibhialta” in a sentence: Irish examples
With a masculine noun, a feminine noun, a plural, a comparison and on its own.
Other adjectives in Irish
More everyday Irish adjectives to learn next.
Civil in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for civil?
The Irish for civil is sibhialta (pronounced “SHIV-ee-al-ta”). It comes after the noun: cogadh sibhialta, a civil war; scéim shibhialta, a civil scheme.
How do you say more civil and most civil in Irish?
níos sibhialta is more civil and is sibhialta is most civil. In the past tense they become ní ba shibhialta and ba shibhialta.
Why does sibhialta become shibhialta?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So scéim shibhialta (a civil scheme) but cogadh sibhialta (a civil war), because cogadh is masculine.
How do you say very civil in Irish?
an-sibhialta. Too civil is róshibhialta, and as civil as is chomh sibhialta le.
Does sibhialta have more than one meaning?
Yes. Sibhialta can mean civil, polite or civilised, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between sibhialta and sibhialtach?
Sibhialta means civil or polite, as in cogadh sibhialta, while sibhialtach is mainly used as a noun meaning a civilian, though the forms overlap in use.
Which preposition is used with sibhialta when being polite to someone?
Use le: bhí sí sibhialta liom, she was civil to me.
