HeyRuaHow to say “to think” in Irish
- Irish:
- síl
- English:
- to think, consider, expect, drip
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- síleadh (ag síleadh, thinking)
- Verbal adjective:
- sílte
- Pronunciation:
- “sheel” /ʃiːlʲ/
What does “síl” mean?
“Síl” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to think
- To believe or suppose that something is the case.Also: believe, suppose, reckon.
3 other meanings: consider or expect or drip
- 2to consider
- To hold an opinion of someone or something, to regard them in a certain way.Also: regard, deem.
- 3to expect
- To expect or intend that something will happen.Also: intend, anticipate.
- 4to drip
- Of liquid, to fall in drops or to shed drops.Also: trickle, shed drops.
Other Irish verbs for to think: ceap (think), meas (think), smaoinigh (think), machnaigh (reflect)
“Síl” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Shíl méI thought | Níor shíl méI did not think | Ar shíl mé?Did I think? |
| tú (you) | Shíl túYou thought | Níor shíl túYou did not think | Ar shíl tú?Did you think? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Shíl sé / síHe thought | Níor shíl sé / síHe did not think | Ar shíl sé / sí?Did he think? |
| sinn (we) | ShíleamarWe thought | Níor shíleamarWe did not think | Ar shíleamar?Did we think? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Shíl sibhYou thought | Níor shíl sibhYou did not think | Ar shíl sibh?Did you think? |
| siad (they) | Shíl siadThey thought | Níor shíl siadThey did not think | Ar shíl siad?Did they think? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Síleadh | Níor síleadh | Ar síleadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SílimI think | Ní shílimI do not think | An sílim?Do I think? |
| tú (you) | Síleann túYou think | Ní shíleann túYou do not think | An síleann tú?Do you think? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Síleann sé / síHe thinks | Ní shíleann sé / síHe does not think | An síleann sé / sí?Does he think? |
| sinn (we) | SílimidWe think | Ní shílimidWe do not think | An sílimid?Do we think? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Síleann sibhYou think | Ní shíleann sibhYou do not think | An síleann sibh?Do you think? |
| siad (they) | Síleann siadThey think | Ní shíleann siadThey do not think | An síleann siad?Do they think? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Síltear | Ní shíltear | An síltear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Sílfidh méI will think | Ní shílfidh méI will not think | An sílfidh mé?Will I think? |
| tú (you) | Sílfidh túYou will think | Ní shílfidh túYou will not think | An sílfidh tú?Will you think? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Sílfidh sé / síHe will think | Ní shílfidh sé / síHe will not think | An sílfidh sé / sí?Will he think? |
| sinn (we) | SílfimidWe will think | Ní shílfimidWe will not think | An sílfimid?Will we think? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Sílfidh sibhYou will think | Ní shílfidh sibhYou will not think | An sílfidh sibh?Will you think? |
| siad (they) | Sílfidh siadThey will think | Ní shílfidh siadThey will not think | An sílfidh siad?Will they think? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Sílfear | Ní shílfear | An sílfear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ShílfinnI would think | Ní shílfinnI would not think | An sílfinn?Would I think? |
| tú (you) | ShílfeáYou would think | Ní shílfeáYou would not think | An sílfeá?Would you think? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Shílfeadh sé / síHe would think | Ní shílfeadh sé / síHe would not think | An sílfeadh sé / sí?Would he think? |
| sinn (we) | ShílfimisWe would think | Ní shílfimisWe would not think | An sílfimis?Would we think? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Shílfeadh sibhYou would think | Ní shílfeadh sibhYou would not think | An sílfeadh sibh?Would you think? |
| siad (they) | ShílfidísThey would think | Ní shílfidísThey would not think | An sílfidís?Would they think? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Shílfí | Ní shílfí | An sílfí? |
“Síl” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To think in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to think?
The Irish for to think is síl (pronounced “sheel”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is síleadh.
What is the verbal noun of síl?
The verbal noun of síl is síleadh, used after ag for the continuous: ag síleadh (thinking). The verbal adjective is sílte.
How do you say síl in the past and the future?
Past: Shíl mé; negative Níor shíl mé; question Ar shíl mé?. Future: Sílfidh mé; negative Ní shílfidh mé; question An sílfidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of síl?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Shílfinn (I would think); negative Ní shílfinn; question An sílfinn?.
Does síl have more than one meaning?
Yes. Síl can mean to think, to consider, to expect or to drip, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'síl' and 'ceap'?
Both mean 'think' in the sense of an opinion: 'Sílim go bhfuil' and 'Ceapaim go bhfuil' both mean 'I think that it is'. 'Síl' is especially common in Connacht and Ulster, 'ceap' more widespread elsewhere.
How do I say 'I think so' with 'síl'?
Say 'Sílim é' or 'Sílim go bhfuil', and 'sílim' can be added at the end of a sentence like 'I think' in English.
