HeyRuaHow to say “fairy mound” in Irish
- Irish:
- sí
- English:
- fairy mound, fairy
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “shee” /ʃiː/
- Genitive singular:
- sí, na sí (e.g. ceol sí, fairy music)
What does “sí” mean?
“Sí” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- fairy mound
- A hill or ancient mound believed in folklore to be the dwelling place of the fairies.Also: fairy hill, fairy fort, sidhe, otherworld mound.
1 other meaning: fairy
- 2fairy
- Used mainly in the genitive after another noun to mean 'of the fairies' or 'fairy', as in bean sí.Also: otherworldly, supernatural being.
“Sí” with the article
Here is sí after the article (an t-alt).
“Sí” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using sí, the Irish word for fairy mound.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Fairy mound in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for fairy mound?
The Irish for fairy mound is sí (pronounced “shee”). It’s a feminine noun. Depending on context it can also mean fairy.
How do you pronounce sí in Irish?
Sí is said like “shee” (IPA /ʃiː/).
Does sí have a plural?
No plural form is given for sí in the standard. Many abstract and mass nouns in Irish have no plural.
Does sí have more than one meaning?
Yes. Sí can mean fairy mound or fairy, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does sí change to shí?
After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo shí. After ár (our) it stays ár sí, because s does not take eclipsis.
Is this the same word as the pronoun sí 'she'?
No. The noun sí means a fairy mound and appears mostly in phrases like bean sí; the pronoun sí 'she' is a separate word that only looks the same.
Where does the English word banshee come from?
It comes from Irish bean sí, literally 'woman of the fairy mound'.
