HeyRuaHow to say “to hunt” in Irish
- Irish:
- seilg
- English:
- to hunt, prey on
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- seilg (ag seilg, hunting)
- Verbal adjective:
- seilgthe
- Pronunciation:
- “shel-ig” /ʃɛlʲəgʲ/
What does “seilg” mean?
“Seilg” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to hunt
- To chase and catch or kill wild animals or birds.Also: chase, go hunting.
1 other meaning: prey on
- 2to prey on
- Of an animal, to hunt other creatures for food.Also: hunt for food, stalk.
Other Irish verbs for to hunt: fiach (hunt)
“Seilg” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Sheilg méI hunted | Níor sheilg méI did not hunt | Ar sheilg mé?Did I hunt? |
| tú (you) | Sheilg túYou hunted | Níor sheilg túYou did not hunt | Ar sheilg tú?Did you hunt? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Sheilg sé / síHe hunted | Níor sheilg sé / síHe did not hunt | Ar sheilg sé / sí?Did he hunt? |
| sinn (we) | SheilgeamarWe hunted | Níor sheilgeamarWe did not hunt | Ar sheilgeamar?Did we hunt? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Sheilg sibhYou hunted | Níor sheilg sibhYou did not hunt | Ar sheilg sibh?Did you hunt? |
| siad (they) | Sheilg siadThey hunted | Níor sheilg siadThey did not hunt | Ar sheilg siad?Did they hunt? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Seilgeadh | Níor seilgeadh | Ar seilgeadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SeilgimI hunt | Ní sheilgimI do not hunt | An seilgim?Do I hunt? |
| tú (you) | Seilgeann túYou hunt | Ní sheilgeann túYou do not hunt | An seilgeann tú?Do you hunt? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Seilgeann sé / síHe hunts | Ní sheilgeann sé / síHe does not hunt | An seilgeann sé / sí?Does he hunt? |
| sinn (we) | SeilgimidWe hunt | Ní sheilgimidWe do not hunt | An seilgimid?Do we hunt? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Seilgeann sibhYou hunt | Ní sheilgeann sibhYou do not hunt | An seilgeann sibh?Do you hunt? |
| siad (they) | Seilgeann siadThey hunt | Ní sheilgeann siadThey do not hunt | An seilgeann siad?Do they hunt? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Seilgtear | Ní sheilgtear | An seilgtear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Seilgfidh méI will hunt | Ní sheilgfidh méI will not hunt | An seilgfidh mé?Will I hunt? |
| tú (you) | Seilgfidh túYou will hunt | Ní sheilgfidh túYou will not hunt | An seilgfidh tú?Will you hunt? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Seilgfidh sé / síHe will hunt | Ní sheilgfidh sé / síHe will not hunt | An seilgfidh sé / sí?Will he hunt? |
| sinn (we) | SeilgfimidWe will hunt | Ní sheilgfimidWe will not hunt | An seilgfimid?Will we hunt? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Seilgfidh sibhYou will hunt | Ní sheilgfidh sibhYou will not hunt | An seilgfidh sibh?Will you hunt? |
| siad (they) | Seilgfidh siadThey will hunt | Ní sheilgfidh siadThey will not hunt | An seilgfidh siad?Will they hunt? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Seilgfear | Ní sheilgfear | An seilgfear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SheilgfinnI would hunt | Ní sheilgfinnI would not hunt | An seilgfinn?Would I hunt? |
| tú (you) | SheilgfeáYou would hunt | Ní sheilgfeáYou would not hunt | An seilgfeá?Would you hunt? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Sheilgfeadh sé / síHe would hunt | Ní sheilgfeadh sé / síHe would not hunt | An seilgfeadh sé / sí?Would he hunt? |
| sinn (we) | SheilgfimisWe would hunt | Ní sheilgfimisWe would not hunt | An seilgfimis?Would we hunt? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Sheilgfeadh sibhYou would hunt | Ní sheilgfeadh sibhYou would not hunt | An seilgfeadh sibh?Would you hunt? |
| siad (they) | SheilgfidísThey would hunt | Ní sheilgfidísThey would not hunt | An seilgfidís?Would they hunt? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Sheilgfí | Ní sheilgfí | An seilgfí? |
“Seilg” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Sheilg siad fianna sa choill inné.
They hunted deer in the wood yesterday.
Seilgeann an sionnach coiníní san oíche.
The fox hunts rabbits at night.
Seilgfimid géanna fiáine amárach.
We will hunt wild geese tomorrow.
Sheilgfeadh sé gach lá dá mbeadh cead aige.
He would hunt every day if he had permission.
Níor sheilg mé riamh i mo shaol.
I never hunted in my life.
Ar sheilg tú sna sléibhte riamh?
Did you ever hunt in the mountains?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To hunt in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to hunt?
The Irish for to hunt is seilg (pronounced “shel-ig”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is seilg.
What is the verbal noun of seilg?
The verbal noun of seilg is seilg, used after ag for the continuous: ag seilg (hunting). The verbal adjective is seilgthe.
How do you say seilg in the past and the future?
Past: Sheilg mé; negative Níor sheilg mé; question Ar sheilg mé?. Future: Seilgfidh mé; negative Ní sheilgfidh mé; question An seilgfidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of seilg?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Sheilgfinn (I would hunt); negative Ní sheilgfinn; question An seilgfinn?.
Does seilg have more than one meaning?
Yes. Seilg can mean to hunt or to prey on, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'seilg' and 'fiach'?
Both mean to hunt; 'fiach' is often used for hunting with hounds, while 'seilg' is the general word, as in 'ag seilg fianna'.
