HeyRuaHow to say “to be born” in Irish
- Irish:
- saolaigh
- English:
- to be born, deliver, grant long life
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- saolú (ag saolú, being born)
- Verbal adjective:
- saolaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “SAY-lee” /ˈseːlˠiː/
What does “saolaigh” mean?
“Saolaigh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to be born
- Used mainly in the autonomous form (saolaíodh) to say that someone was born.Also: birth.
2 other meanings: deliver or grant long life
- 2to deliver
- To give birth to or deliver a baby or young animal.Also: give birth, bring into the world.
- 3to grant long life
- To give someone length of life, used in blessings.Also: give length of life.
“Saolaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Shaolaigh méI was born | Níor shaolaigh méI was not born | Ar shaolaigh mé?Was I born? |
| tú (you) | Shaolaigh túYou were born | Níor shaolaigh túYou were not born | Ar shaolaigh tú?Were you born? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Shaolaigh sé / síHe was born | Níor shaolaigh sé / síHe was not born | Ar shaolaigh sé / sí?Was he born? |
| sinn (we) | ShaolaíomarWe were born | Níor shaolaíomarWe were not born | Ar shaolaíomar?Were we born? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Shaolaigh sibhYou were born | Níor shaolaigh sibhYou were not born | Ar shaolaigh sibh?Were you born? |
| siad (they) | Shaolaigh siadThey were born | Níor shaolaigh siadThey were not born | Ar shaolaigh siad?Were they born? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Saolaíodh | Níor saolaíodh | Ar saolaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SaolaímI am born | Ní shaolaímI am not born | An saolaím?Am I born? |
| tú (you) | Saolaíonn túYou are born | Ní shaolaíonn túYou are not born | An saolaíonn tú?Are you born? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Saolaíonn sé / síHe is born | Ní shaolaíonn sé / síHe is not born | An saolaíonn sé / sí?Is he born? |
| sinn (we) | SaolaímidWe are born | Ní shaolaímidWe are not born | An saolaímid?Are we born? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Saolaíonn sibhYou are born | Ní shaolaíonn sibhYou are not born | An saolaíonn sibh?Are you born? |
| siad (they) | Saolaíonn siadThey are born | Ní shaolaíonn siadThey are not born | An saolaíonn siad?Are they born? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Saolaítear | Ní shaolaítear | An saolaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Saolóidh méI will be born | Ní shaolóidh méI will not be born | An saolóidh mé?Will I be born? |
| tú (you) | Saolóidh túYou will be born | Ní shaolóidh túYou will not be born | An saolóidh tú?Will you be born? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Saolóidh sé / síHe will be born | Ní shaolóidh sé / síHe will not be born | An saolóidh sé / sí?Will he be born? |
| sinn (we) | SaolóimidWe will be born | Ní shaolóimidWe will not be born | An saolóimid?Will we be born? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Saolóidh sibhYou will be born | Ní shaolóidh sibhYou will not be born | An saolóidh sibh?Will you be born? |
| siad (they) | Saolóidh siadThey will be born | Ní shaolóidh siadThey will not be born | An saolóidh siad?Will they be born? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Saolófar | Ní shaolófar | An saolófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ShaolóinnI would be born | Ní shaolóinnI would not be born | An saolóinn?Would I be born? |
| tú (you) | ShaolófáYou would be born | Ní shaolófáYou would not be born | An saolófá?Would you be born? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Shaolódh sé / síHe would be born | Ní shaolódh sé / síHe would not be born | An saolódh sé / sí?Would he be born? |
| sinn (we) | ShaolóimisWe would be born | Ní shaolóimisWe would not be born | An saolóimis?Would we be born? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Shaolódh sibhYou would be born | Ní shaolódh sibhYou would not be born | An saolódh sibh?Would you be born? |
| siad (they) | ShaolóidísThey would be born | Ní shaolóidísThey would not be born | An saolóidís?Would they be born? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Shaolófaí | Ní shaolófaí | An saolófaí? |
“Saolaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Saolaíodh í sa bhliain 1969.
She was born in 1969.
Saolaítear na huain san earrach.
The lambs are born in spring.
Saolófar an leanbh i mí Lúnasa.
The baby will be born in August.
Dá saolófaí é in Éirinn, bheadh Gaeilge aige.
If he were born in Ireland, he would speak Irish.
Níor saolaíodh i mBaile Átha Cliath é.
He wasn't born in Dublin.
Ar saolaíodh do mhac fós?
Has your son been born yet?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To be born in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to be born?
The Irish for to be born is saolaigh (pronounced “SAY-lee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is saolú.
What is the verbal noun of saolaigh?
The verbal noun of saolaigh is saolú, used after ag for the continuous: ag saolú (being born). The verbal adjective is saolaithe.
How do you say saolaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Shaolaigh mé; negative Níor shaolaigh mé; question Ar shaolaigh mé?. Future: Saolóidh mé; negative Ní shaolóidh mé; question An saolóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of saolaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Shaolóinn (I would be born); negative Ní shaolóinn; question An saolóinn?.
Does saolaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Saolaigh can mean to be born, to deliver or to grant long life, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'I was born' using saolaigh?
Use the past autonomous: 'Saolaíodh mé i gCorcaigh' means 'I was born in Cork'. The phrase 'Rugadh mé' from beir is equally common.
