HeyRuaHow to say “to hide” in Irish
- Irish:
- ceil
- English:
- to hide, cover up
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- ceilt (ag ceilt, hiding)
- Verbal adjective:
- ceilte
- Pronunciation:
- “kel” /cɛlʲ/
What does “ceil” mean?
“Ceil” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to hide
- To keep something secret or out of sight so that others do not know about it.Also: conceal, keep secret, withhold.
1 other meaning: cover up
- 2to cover up
- To disguise or cover up the truth, a feeling or a fact.Also: disguise, suppress.
Other Irish verbs for to hide: folaigh (hide)
“Ceil” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Cheil méI hid | Níor cheil méI did not hide | Ar cheil mé?Did I hide? |
| tú (you) | Cheil túYou hid | Níor cheil túYou did not hide | Ar cheil tú?Did you hide? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cheil sé / síHe hid | Níor cheil sé / síHe did not hide | Ar cheil sé / sí?Did he hide? |
| sinn (we) | CheileamarWe hid | Níor cheileamarWe did not hide | Ar cheileamar?Did we hide? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cheil sibhYou hid | Níor cheil sibhYou did not hide | Ar cheil sibh?Did you hide? |
| siad (they) | Cheil siadThey hid | Níor cheil siadThey did not hide | Ar cheil siad?Did they hide? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Ceileadh | Níor ceileadh | Ar ceileadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CeilimI hide | Ní cheilimI do not hide | An gceilim?Do I hide? |
| tú (you) | Ceileann túYou hide | Ní cheileann túYou do not hide | An gceileann tú?Do you hide? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ceileann sé / síHe hides | Ní cheileann sé / síHe does not hide | An gceileann sé / sí?Does he hide? |
| sinn (we) | CeilimidWe hide | Ní cheilimidWe do not hide | An gceilimid?Do we hide? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ceileann sibhYou hide | Ní cheileann sibhYou do not hide | An gceileann sibh?Do you hide? |
| siad (they) | Ceileann siadThey hide | Ní cheileann siadThey do not hide | An gceileann siad?Do they hide? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Ceiltear | Ní cheiltear | An gceiltear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Ceilfidh méI will hide | Ní cheilfidh méI will not hide | An gceilfidh mé?Will I hide? |
| tú (you) | Ceilfidh túYou will hide | Ní cheilfidh túYou will not hide | An gceilfidh tú?Will you hide? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ceilfidh sé / síHe will hide | Ní cheilfidh sé / síHe will not hide | An gceilfidh sé / sí?Will he hide? |
| sinn (we) | CeilfimidWe will hide | Ní cheilfimidWe will not hide | An gceilfimid?Will we hide? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ceilfidh sibhYou will hide | Ní cheilfidh sibhYou will not hide | An gceilfidh sibh?Will you hide? |
| siad (they) | Ceilfidh siadThey will hide | Ní cheilfidh siadThey will not hide | An gceilfidh siad?Will they hide? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Ceilfear | Ní cheilfear | An gceilfear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CheilfinnI would hide | Ní cheilfinnI would not hide | An gceilfinn?Would I hide? |
| tú (you) | CheilfeáYou would hide | Ní cheilfeáYou would not hide | An gceilfeá?Would you hide? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cheilfeadh sé / síHe would hide | Ní cheilfeadh sé / síHe would not hide | An gceilfeadh sé / sí?Would he hide? |
| sinn (we) | CheilfimisWe would hide | Ní cheilfimisWe would not hide | An gceilfimis?Would we hide? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cheilfeadh sibhYou would hide | Ní cheilfeadh sibhYou would not hide | An gceilfeadh sibh?Would you hide? |
| siad (they) | CheilfidísThey would hide | Ní cheilfidísThey would not hide | An gceilfidís?Would they hide? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cheilfí | Ní cheilfí | An gceilfí? |
“Ceil” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To hide in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to hide?
The Irish for to hide is ceil (pronounced “kel”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is ceilt.
What is the verbal noun of ceil?
The verbal noun of ceil is ceilt, used after ag for the continuous: ag ceilt (hiding). The verbal adjective is ceilte.
How do you say ceil in the past and the future?
Past: Cheil mé; negative Níor cheil mé; question Ar cheil mé?. Future: Ceilfidh mé; negative Ní cheilfidh mé; question An gceilfidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of ceil?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Cheilfinn (I would hide); negative Ní cheilfinn; question An gceilfinn?.
Does ceil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Ceil can mean to hide or to cover up, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Which preposition does 'ceil' take for hiding something from someone?
Use 'ar': 'cheil sé an scéal orm' means he hid the story from me.
What is the difference between 'ceil' and 'folaigh'?
'Folaigh' is mainly physical hiding, as in 'd'fholaigh sé an eochair', while 'ceil' is more about concealing information, truth or feelings.
