HeyRuaHow to say “to circle” in Irish
- Irish:
- ciorclaigh
- English:
- to circle, encircle
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- ciorclú (ag ciorclú, circling)
- Verbal adjective:
- ciorclaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “KIR-klee” /ˈcɪɾˠkˠlˠiː/
What does “ciorclaigh” mean?
“Ciorclaigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to circle
- To draw a circle around something, for example a word or answer on a page.Also: draw a circle around, ring, mark with a circle.
1 other meaning: encircle
- 2to encircle
- To go around or surround something in a circle.Also: surround, go around, circle around.
“Ciorclaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Chiorclaigh méI circled | Níor chiorclaigh méI did not circle | Ar chiorclaigh mé?Did I circle? |
| tú (you) | Chiorclaigh túYou circled | Níor chiorclaigh túYou did not circle | Ar chiorclaigh tú?Did you circle? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chiorclaigh sé / síHe circled | Níor chiorclaigh sé / síHe did not circle | Ar chiorclaigh sé / sí?Did he circle? |
| sinn (we) | ChiorclaíomarWe circled | Níor chiorclaíomarWe did not circle | Ar chiorclaíomar?Did we circle? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chiorclaigh sibhYou circled | Níor chiorclaigh sibhYou did not circle | Ar chiorclaigh sibh?Did you circle? |
| siad (they) | Chiorclaigh siadThey circled | Níor chiorclaigh siadThey did not circle | Ar chiorclaigh siad?Did they circle? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Ciorclaíodh | Níor ciorclaíodh | Ar ciorclaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CiorclaímI circle | Ní chiorclaímI do not circle | An gciorclaím?Do I circle? |
| tú (you) | Ciorclaíonn túYou circle | Ní chiorclaíonn túYou do not circle | An gciorclaíonn tú?Do you circle? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ciorclaíonn sé / síHe circles | Ní chiorclaíonn sé / síHe does not circle | An gciorclaíonn sé / sí?Does he circle? |
| sinn (we) | CiorclaímidWe circle | Ní chiorclaímidWe do not circle | An gciorclaímid?Do we circle? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ciorclaíonn sibhYou circle | Ní chiorclaíonn sibhYou do not circle | An gciorclaíonn sibh?Do you circle? |
| siad (they) | Ciorclaíonn siadThey circle | Ní chiorclaíonn siadThey do not circle | An gciorclaíonn siad?Do they circle? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Ciorclaítear | Ní chiorclaítear | An gciorclaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Ciorclóidh méI will circle | Ní chiorclóidh méI will not circle | An gciorclóidh mé?Will I circle? |
| tú (you) | Ciorclóidh túYou will circle | Ní chiorclóidh túYou will not circle | An gciorclóidh tú?Will you circle? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ciorclóidh sé / síHe will circle | Ní chiorclóidh sé / síHe will not circle | An gciorclóidh sé / sí?Will he circle? |
| sinn (we) | CiorclóimidWe will circle | Ní chiorclóimidWe will not circle | An gciorclóimid?Will we circle? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ciorclóidh sibhYou will circle | Ní chiorclóidh sibhYou will not circle | An gciorclóidh sibh?Will you circle? |
| siad (they) | Ciorclóidh siadThey will circle | Ní chiorclóidh siadThey will not circle | An gciorclóidh siad?Will they circle? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Ciorclófar | Ní chiorclófar | An gciorclófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChiorclóinnI would circle | Ní chiorclóinnI would not circle | An gciorclóinn?Would I circle? |
| tú (you) | ChiorclófáYou would circle | Ní chiorclófáYou would not circle | An gciorclófá?Would you circle? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chiorclódh sé / síHe would circle | Ní chiorclódh sé / síHe would not circle | An gciorclódh sé / sí?Would he circle? |
| sinn (we) | ChiorclóimisWe would circle | Ní chiorclóimisWe would not circle | An gciorclóimis?Would we circle? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chiorclódh sibhYou would circle | Ní chiorclódh sibhYou would not circle | An gciorclódh sibh?Would you circle? |
| siad (they) | ChiorclóidísThey would circle | Ní chiorclóidísThey would not circle | An gciorclóidís?Would they circle? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Chiorclófaí | Ní chiorclófaí | An gciorclófaí? |
“Ciorclaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Chiorclaigh sí an freagra ceart.
She circled the right answer.
Ciorclaíonn an múinteoir na botúin i gcónaí.
The teacher always circles the mistakes.
Ciorclóidh mé an dáta ar an bhféilire.
I will circle the date on the calendar.
Chiorclóinn na focail nua dá mbeadh peann agam.
I would circle the new words if I had a pen.
Níor chiorclaigh sé aon fhreagra.
He didn't circle any answer.
Ar chiorclaigh tú d'ainm ar an liosta?
Did you circle your name on the list?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To circle in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to circle?
The Irish for to circle is ciorclaigh (pronounced “KIR-klee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is ciorclú.
What is the verbal noun of ciorclaigh?
The verbal noun of ciorclaigh is ciorclú, used after ag for the continuous: ag ciorclú (circling). The verbal adjective is ciorclaithe.
How do you say ciorclaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Chiorclaigh mé; negative Níor chiorclaigh mé; question Ar chiorclaigh mé?. Future: Ciorclóidh mé; negative Ní chiorclóidh mé; question An gciorclóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of ciorclaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Chiorclóinn (I would circle); negative Ní chiorclóinn; question An gciorclóinn?.
Does ciorclaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Ciorclaigh can mean to circle or to encircle, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How do I say 'circle the correct answer' in Irish?
In worksheets and exams you will see 'Ciorclaigh an freagra ceart.'
What is the difference between 'ciorclaigh' and 'timpeallaigh'?
'Ciorclaigh' is mostly used for drawing a circle around something, while 'timpeallaigh' means to surround or go around, as in 'timpeallaigh an teach'.
