HeyRuaHow to say “perpetual” in Irish
- Irish:
- síor
- English:
- perpetual, continual
- Word type:
- adjective
- More perpetual:
- níos síre
- Most perpetual:
- is síre
- Plural:
- síora
- Pronunciation:
- “sheer” /ʃiːɾˠ/
What does “síor” mean?
“Síor” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- perpetual
- Lasting for ever or going on without stopping.Also: eternal, everlasting, endless.
1 other meaning: continual
- 2continual
- Happening again and again or all the time.Also: constant, incessant, never-ending.
“Síor” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is síor after fear (man, masculine), after beatha (life, feminine) and after a plural.
séimhiú (the h) the ending
After a feminine noun the adjective gets a séimhiú, an h after its first letter: beatha shíor. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: fear síor.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, síora. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: fir shíora; after other plurals it does not: beathaí síora.
More perpetual, most perpetual, very perpetual
| more perpetual | níos síre | in the past tense: ní ba shíre |
|---|---|---|
| most perpetual | is síre | in the past tense: ba shíre |
| as perpetual as | chomh síor le | no change after chomh |
| very perpetual | an-síor | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too perpetual | róshíor | ró- lenites |
“Síor” in a sentence: Irish examples
With a masculine noun, a feminine noun, a plural, a comparison and on its own.
Other adjectives in Irish
More everyday Irish adjectives to learn next.
Perpetual in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for perpetual?
The Irish for perpetual is síor (pronounced “sheer”). It comes after the noun: fear síor, a perpetual man; beatha shíor, a perpetual life.
How do you say more perpetual and most perpetual in Irish?
níos síre is more perpetual and is síre is most perpetual. In the past tense they become ní ba shíre and ba shíre.
Why does síor become shíor?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So beatha shíor (a perpetual life) but fear síor (a perpetual man), because fear is masculine.
What is the plural of síor?
With a plural noun síor becomes síora: fir shíora, beathaí síora. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very perpetual in Irish?
an-síor. Too perpetual is róshíor, and as perpetual as is chomh síor le.
Does síor have more than one meaning?
Yes. Síor can mean perpetual or continual, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'síor' and 'síoraí'?
'Síoraí' is the usual standalone adjective for eternal, as in 'an bheatha shíoraí', while 'síor' is most often met in 'de shíor' (constantly) or as the prefix 'síor-', as in 'síorchaint' (incessant talk).
How do I say someone is always doing something?
Use 'de shíor' with the verbal noun: 'Bíonn sé de shíor ag caint' means he is always talking.
