HeyRuaHow to say “sly person” in Irish
- Irish:
- slíbhín
- English:
- sly person
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “SHLEE-veen” /ˈʃlʲiːvʲiːnʲ/
- Plural:
- slíbhíní (sly people)
- Genitive singular:
- slíbhín, an tslíbhín (e.g. cleasanna an tslíbhín, the sly fellow's tricks)
- Genitive plural:
- slíbhíní, na slíbhíní (e.g. cleasanna na slíbhíní, the tricks of the sly ones)
What does “slíbhín” mean?
- sly person
- A cunning, sneaky person who gets what he wants by underhand or crafty means.Also: sneak, trickster, cunning person, slyboots.
“Slíbhín” with the article
The plural of sly person in Irish is slíbhíní. Here is slíbhín after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Slíbhín” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using slíbhín, the Irish word for sly person.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Sly person in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for sly person?
The Irish for sly person is slíbhín (pronounced “SHLEE-veen”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is slíbhíní.
How do you pronounce slíbhín in Irish?
Slíbhín is said like “SHLEE-veen” (IPA /ˈʃlʲiːvʲiːnʲ/).
What is the plural of sly person in Irish?
The plural of slíbhín is slíbhíní; with the article, na slíbhíní means “the sly people”. The genitive plural is slíbhíní, as in cleasanna na slíbhíní (the tricks of the sly ones).
Why does slíbhín change to shlíbhín?
After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo shlíbhín. After ár (our) it stays ár slíbhín, because s does not take eclipsis.
Is 'slíbhín' the source of the Hiberno-English word 'sleeveen'?
Yes, 'sleeveen' in Irish English comes directly from 'slíbhín' and means the same thing: a sly, untrustworthy person.
