HeyRuaHow to say “seed” in Irish
- Irish:
- síol
- English:
- seed, semen, offspring
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “sheel” /ʃiːlˠ/
- Plural:
- síolta (seeds)
- Genitive singular:
- síl, an tsíl (e.g. cur an tsíl, the sowing of the seed)
- Genitive plural:
- síolta, na síolta (e.g. cur na síolta, the sowing of the seeds)
What does “síol” mean?
“Síol” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- seed
- The small part of a plant from which a new plant grows.Also: grain, seedling.
2 other meanings: semen or offspring
- 2semen
- The fluid containing sperm from a male animal or man.Also: sperm.
- 3offspring
- The descendants or race of a person, especially a family line named after an ancestor.Also: progeny, descendants, race, seed.
Other Irish words for seed: pór (seed)
“Síol” with the article
The plural of seed in Irish is síolta. Here is síol after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Síol” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using síol, the Irish word for seed.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Seed in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for seed?
The Irish for seed is síol (pronounced “sheel”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is síolta. Depending on context it can also mean semen or offspring.
How do you pronounce síol in Irish?
Síol is said like “sheel” (IPA /ʃiːlˠ/).
What is the plural of seed in Irish?
The plural of síol is síolta; with the article, na síolta means “the seeds”. The genitive plural is síolta, as in cur na síolta (the sowing of the seeds).
Does síol have more than one meaning?
Yes. Síol can mean seed, semen or offspring, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does síol change to shíol?
After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo shíol. After ár (our) it stays ár síol, because s does not take eclipsis.
What is the difference between síol and pór?
Síol is the usual word for a seed you sow, while pór means seed in the sense of breed or stock, as in pór maith. Both can refer to descendants.
How do I say something has gone to seed?
Use dul chun síl: chuaigh an cabáiste chun síl, the cabbage went to seed.
