HeyRuaHow to say “spell” in Irish
- Irish:
- seal
- English:
- spell, turn
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, third declension
- Pronunciation:
- “shal” /ʃal̪ˠ/
- Plural:
- sealanna (spells)
- Genitive singular:
- seala, an tseala (e.g. ar feadh seala, for a while)
- Genitive plural:
- sealanna, na sealanna (e.g. córas na sealanna, the shift system)
What does “seal” mean?
“Seal” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- spell
- A period or while of time, often a fairly short one.Also: while, period, span, stint.
“Seal” with the article
The plural of spell in Irish is sealanna. Here is seal after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Seal” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using seal, the Irish word for spell.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Spell in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for spell?
The Irish for spell is seal (pronounced “shal”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is sealanna. Depending on context it can also mean turn.
How do you pronounce seal in Irish?
Seal is said like “shal” (IPA /ʃal̪ˠ/).
What is the plural of spell in Irish?
The plural of seal is sealanna; with the article, na sealanna means “the spells”. The genitive plural is sealanna, as in córas na sealanna (the shift system).
Does seal have more than one meaning?
Yes. Seal can mean spell or turn, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does seal change to sheal?
After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo sheal. After ár (our) it stays ár seal, because s does not take eclipsis.
What is the difference between 'seal' and 'tamall'?
Both mean 'a while'; 'seal' also means 'a turn', as in 'is é do sheal é' (it's your turn), which 'tamall' cannot.
Is 'seal' the animal?
No, this is a false friend: the animal seal is 'rón' in Irish.
