Fairy tale in Irish (Síscéal): Meaning & Pronunciation

Q: What is the Irish for fairy tale?

The Irish for fairy tale is síscéal (pronounced “SHEESH-kayl”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is síscéalta. Depending on context it can also mean tall story.

Q: What is the plural of fairy tale in Irish?

The plural of síscéal is síscéalta; with the article, na síscéalta means “the fairy tales”. The genitive plural is síscéalta, as in leabhar na síscéalta (the book of fairy tales).

Q: Does síscéal have more than one meaning?

Yes. Síscéal can mean fairy tale or tall story, depending on context; the first is the most common.

How to say “fairy tale” in Irish

Irish:: síscéal
English:: fairy tale, tall story
Word type:: noun
Gender:: masculine, first declension
Pronunciation:: “SHEESH-kayl” /ˈʃiːʃceːl/

Various forms

Plural:: síscéalta (fairy tales)
Genitive singular:: síscéil, an tsíscéil (e.g. deireadh an tsíscéil, the end of the fairy tale)
Genitive plural:: síscéalta, na síscéalta (e.g. leabhar na síscéalta, the book of fairy tales)

What does “síscéal” mean?

“Síscéal” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.

fairy tale: A traditional story about magical beings such as fairies, giants and witches, often told to children.Also: fairy story, folk tale, fable.

1 other meaning: tall story

2tall story: An unbelievable or made-up account of something, a story nobody should believe.Also: made-up story, fantasy, fiction.

“Síscéal” with the article

The plural of fairy tale in Irish is síscéalta. Here is síscéal after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.

an síscéal

the fairy tale

No change after an

na síscéalta

the fairy tales

Plural: no change after na

“Síscéal” in a sentence: Irish examples

Common Irish sentences using síscéal, the Irish word for fairy tale.

Léigh mo mháthair síscéal dom gach oíche.

My mother read me a fairy tale every night.

Is maith leis na páistí an síscéal sin.

The children like that fairy tale.

Bhí banphrionsa álainn i lár an tsíscéil.

There was a beautiful princess at the heart of the fairy tale.

Bailíodh na síscéalta sin i gConamara.

Those fairy tales were collected in Connemara.

Ní chreidim é, níl ann ach síscéal.

I don't believe it, it's just a tall story.

Tá go leor síscéalta Gaeilge sa leabharlann.

There are lots of Irish fairy tales in the library.

Bhí sé cosúil le rud éigin as síscéal.

It was like something out of a fairy tale.

Other nouns in Irish

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Fairy tale in Irish: frequently asked questions

What is the Irish for fairy tale?

The Irish for fairy tale is síscéal (pronounced “SHEESH-kayl”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is síscéalta. Depending on context it can also mean tall story.

How do you pronounce síscéal in Irish?

Síscéal is said like “SHEESH-kayl” (IPA /ˈʃiːʃceːl/).

What is the plural of fairy tale in Irish?

The plural of síscéal is síscéalta; with the article, na síscéalta means “the fairy tales”. The genitive plural is síscéalta, as in leabhar na síscéalta (the book of fairy tales).

Does síscéal have more than one meaning?

Yes. Síscéal can mean fairy tale or tall story, depending on context; the first is the most common.

Why does síscéal change to shíscéal?

After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo shíscéal. After ár (our) it stays ár síscéal, because s does not take eclipsis.

What is the difference between síscéal and finscéal?

Síscéal is a fairy tale, literally a fairy story (sí + scéal), while finscéal means a legend, myth or piece of fiction more generally.

Fairy tale in Irish (Síscéal): Meaning, Pronunciation, Usage