HeyRuaHow to say “secretive” in Irish
- Irish:
- ceilteach
- English:
- secretive, concealed
- Word type:
- adjective
- More secretive:
- níos ceiltí
- Most secretive:
- is ceiltí
- Plural:
- ceilteacha
- Pronunciation:
- “KEL-tyukh” /ˈcɛl̠ʲtʲəx/
What does “ceilteach” mean?
“Ceilteach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- secretive
- Inclined to hide things or keep information to yourself.Also: reticent, close, uncommunicative.
1 other meaning: concealed
- 2concealed
- Hidden or kept out of sight.Also: hidden, covert, secret.
The same spelling has its own page as:
“Ceilteach” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is ceilteach after duine (person, masculine), after bean (woman, 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: bean cheilteach. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: duine ceilteach.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, ceilteacha. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: mná ceilteacha.
More secretive, most secretive, very secretive
Tá sé níos ceiltí ná a athair. He is more secretive than his father.
| more secretive | níos ceiltí | in the past tense: ní ba cheiltí |
|---|---|---|
| most secretive | is ceiltí | in the past tense: ba cheiltí |
| as secretive as | chomh ceilteach le | no change after chomh |
| very secretive | an-cheilteach | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too secretive | rócheilteach | ró- lenites |
“Ceilteach” 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.
Secretive in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for secretive?
The Irish for secretive is ceilteach (pronounced “KEL-tyukh”). It comes after the noun: duine ceilteach, a secretive person; bean cheilteach, a secretive woman.
How do you say more secretive and most secretive in Irish?
níos ceiltí is more secretive and is ceiltí is most secretive. In the past tense they become ní ba cheiltí and ba cheiltí.
Why does ceilteach become cheilteach?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So bean cheilteach (a secretive woman) but duine ceilteach (a secretive person), because duine is masculine.
What is the plural of ceilteach?
With a plural noun ceilteach becomes ceilteacha: daoine ceilteacha, mná ceilteacha.
How do you say very secretive in Irish?
an-cheilteach. Too secretive is rócheilteach, and as secretive as is chomh ceilteach le.
Does ceilteach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Ceilteach can mean secretive or concealed, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is 'ceilteach' different from 'Ceilteach' meaning Celtic?
'Ceilteach' (secretive) comes from the verb 'ceil', to hide, while 'Ceilteach' with a capital means Celtic, as in 'na teangacha Ceilteacha'. Context and capitalisation tell them apart.
Which preposition goes with 'ceilteach'?
Use 'faoi' for the thing kept secret, as in 'Tá sé ceilteach faoina chuid airgid', he is secretive about his money.
