HeyRuaHow to say “life” in Irish
- Irish:
- saol
- English:
- life, lifetime, world
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “seel” /sˠiːlˠ/
- Plural:
- saolta (lives)
- Genitive singular:
- saoil, an tsaoil (e.g. árachas saoil, life insurance)
- Genitive plural:
- saolta, na saolta (e.g. scéalta na saolta atá thart, stories of past lives)
What does “saol” mean?
“Saol” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- life
- The existence of a person, or the way someone lives.Also: existence, way of life, living.
2 other meanings: lifetime or world
- 2lifetime
- The length of time a person lives.Also: lifespan, life.
- 3world
- The world and the people in it, or the times and conditions people live in.Also: times, people, society.
Other Irish words for life: beatha (life)
“Saol” with the article
The plural of life in Irish is saolta. Here is saol after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Saol” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using saol, the Irish word for life.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Phrases with “saol”
Life in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for life?
The Irish for life is saol (pronounced “seel”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is saolta. Depending on context it can also mean lifetime or world.
How do you pronounce saol in Irish?
Saol is said like “seel” (IPA /sˠiːlˠ/).
What is the plural of life in Irish?
The plural of saol is saolta; with the article, na saolta means “the lives”. The genitive plural is saolta, as in scéalta na saolta atá thart (stories of past lives).
Does saol have more than one meaning?
Yes. Saol can mean life, lifetime or world, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does saol change to shaol?
After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo shaol. After ár (our) it stays ár saol, because s does not take eclipsis.
What is the difference between 'saol' and 'beatha'?
'Saol' is life as lived or experienced, as in 'mo shaol' (my life), while 'beatha' is life as being alive or livelihood, as in 'beatha agus sláinte'. They overlap, but 'saol' is the everyday word for one's life.
Does 'saol' mean 'world'?
Yes, in phrases like 'an saol mór' (everybody) or 'an saol eile' (the next world), but the physical world or globe is usually 'domhan'.
