HeyRuaHow to say “keel” in Irish
- Irish:
- cíle
- English:
- keel
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “KEE-lyuh” /ˈciːlʲə/
- Plural:
- cílí (keels)
- Genitive singular:
- cíle, na cíle (e.g. fad na cíle, length of the keel)
- Genitive plural:
- cílí, na gcílí (e.g. déanamh na gcílí, the making of the keels)
What does “cíle” mean?
- keel
- The long beam along the bottom of a boat or ship on which the whole frame is built.Also: boat keel, ship's keel, bottom of a boat.
“Cíle” with the article
The plural of keel in Irish is cílí. Here is cíle after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Cíle” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using cíle, the Irish word for keel.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Keel in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for keel?
The Irish for keel is cíle (pronounced “KEE-lyuh”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is cílí.
How do you pronounce cíle in Irish?
Cíle is said like “KEE-lyuh” (IPA /ˈciːlʲə/).
What is the plural of keel in Irish?
The plural of cíle is cílí; with the article, na cílí means “the keels”. The genitive plural is cílí, as in déanamh na gcílí (the making of the keels).
Why does cíle change to chíle or gcíle?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) cíle becomes mo chíle (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár gcíle (eclipsis).
Is there an idiom with 'cíle' like 'on an even keel'?
Irish does not normally translate this literally; you would say something like 'ar a shuaimhneas' or 'socair' rather than using 'cíle'.
