HeyRuaHow to say “to drip” in Irish
- Irish:
- sil
- English:
- to drip, shed, drain, droop
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- sileadh (ag sileadh, dripping)
- Verbal adjective:
- silte
- Pronunciation:
- “shil” /ʃɪlʲ/
What does “sil” mean?
“Sil” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to drip
- To fall or let something fall in drops.Also: drop, trickle, leak.
3 other meanings: shed or drain or droop
- 2to shed
- To let tears or blood flow, as in weeping.Also: weep, shed tears.
- 3to drain
- To flow away gradually or let liquid run off something.Also: flow, run, strain.
- 4to droop
- To hang down loosely.Also: hang down, sag.
“Sil” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Shil méI dripped | Níor shil méI did not drip | Ar shil mé?Did I drip? |
| tú (you) | Shil túYou dripped | Níor shil túYou did not drip | Ar shil tú?Did you drip? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Shil sé / síHe dripped | Níor shil sé / síHe did not drip | Ar shil sé / sí?Did he drip? |
| sinn (we) | ShileamarWe dripped | Níor shileamarWe did not drip | Ar shileamar?Did we drip? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Shil sibhYou dripped | Níor shil sibhYou did not drip | Ar shil sibh?Did you drip? |
| siad (they) | Shil siadThey dripped | Níor shil siadThey did not drip | Ar shil siad?Did they drip? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Sileadh | Níor sileadh | Ar sileadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SilimI drip | Ní shilimI do not drip | An silim?Do I drip? |
| tú (you) | Sileann túYou drip | Ní shileann túYou do not drip | An sileann tú?Do you drip? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Sileann sé / síHe drips | Ní shileann sé / síHe does not drip | An sileann sé / sí?Does he drip? |
| sinn (we) | SilimidWe drip | Ní shilimidWe do not drip | An silimid?Do we drip? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Sileann sibhYou drip | Ní shileann sibhYou do not drip | An sileann sibh?Do you drip? |
| siad (they) | Sileann siadThey drip | Ní shileann siadThey do not drip | An sileann siad?Do they drip? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Siltear | Ní shiltear | An siltear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Silfidh méI will drip | Ní shilfidh méI will not drip | An silfidh mé?Will I drip? |
| tú (you) | Silfidh túYou will drip | Ní shilfidh túYou will not drip | An silfidh tú?Will you drip? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Silfidh sé / síHe will drip | Ní shilfidh sé / síHe will not drip | An silfidh sé / sí?Will he drip? |
| sinn (we) | SilfimidWe will drip | Ní shilfimidWe will not drip | An silfimid?Will we drip? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Silfidh sibhYou will drip | Ní shilfidh sibhYou will not drip | An silfidh sibh?Will you drip? |
| siad (they) | Silfidh siadThey will drip | Ní shilfidh siadThey will not drip | An silfidh siad?Will they drip? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Silfear | Ní shilfear | An silfear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ShilfinnI would drip | Ní shilfinnI would not drip | An silfinn?Would I drip? |
| tú (you) | ShilfeáYou would drip | Ní shilfeáYou would not drip | An silfeá?Would you drip? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Shilfeadh sé / síHe would drip | Ní shilfeadh sé / síHe would not drip | An silfeadh sé / sí?Would he drip? |
| sinn (we) | ShilfimisWe would drip | Ní shilfimisWe would not drip | An silfimis?Would we drip? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Shilfeadh sibhYou would drip | Ní shilfeadh sibhYou would not drip | An silfeadh sibh?Would you drip? |
| siad (they) | ShilfidísThey would drip | Ní shilfidísThey would not drip | An silfidís?Would they drip? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Shilfí | Ní shilfí | An silfí? |
“Sil” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Shil an t-uisce ón díon ar feadh na hoíche.
The water dripped from the roof all night.
Sileann an sconna sa chistin i gcónaí.
The tap in the kitchen always drips.
Silfidh sí deora nuair a chloisfidh sí an scéal.
She will shed tears when she hears the news.
Shilfeadh an fhuil dá ngearrfá do mhéar.
The blood would drip if you cut your finger.
Níor shil sé deoir ag an tsochraid.
He didn't shed a tear at the funeral.
Ar shil tú na prátaí fós?
Did you drain the potatoes yet?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To drip in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to drip?
The Irish for to drip is sil (pronounced “shil”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is sileadh.
What is the verbal noun of sil?
The verbal noun of sil is sileadh, used after ag for the continuous: ag sileadh (dripping). The verbal adjective is silte.
How do you say sil in the past and the future?
Past: Shil mé; negative Níor shil mé; question Ar shil mé?. Future: Silfidh mé; negative Ní shilfidh mé; question An silfidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of sil?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Shilfinn (I would drip); negative Ní shilfinn; question An silfinn?.
Does sil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Sil can mean to drip, to shed, to drain or to droop, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'sil' and 'doirt'?
'Sil' means to drip or trickle slowly, while 'doirt' means to pour or spill: 'shil an sconna' (the tap dripped) but 'dhoirt mé an bainne' (I spilled the milk).
