HeyRuaHow to say “to possess” in Irish
- Irish:
- sealbhaigh
- English:
- to possess, acquire
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- sealbhú (ag sealbhú, possessing)
- Verbal adjective:
- sealbhaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “SHAL-uh-wee” /ˈʃalˠəwiː/
What does “sealbhaigh” mean?
“Sealbhaigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to possess
- To own something or take possession of it.Also: own, take possession of, acquire.
1 other meaning: acquire
- 2to acquire
- To gain something, such as a language or skill, and make it your own.Also: gain, master.
“Sealbhaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Shealbhaigh méI possessed | Níor shealbhaigh méI did not possess | Ar shealbhaigh mé?Did I possess? |
| tú (you) | Shealbhaigh túYou possessed | Níor shealbhaigh túYou did not possess | Ar shealbhaigh tú?Did you possess? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Shealbhaigh sé / síHe possessed | Níor shealbhaigh sé / síHe did not possess | Ar shealbhaigh sé / sí?Did he possess? |
| sinn (we) | ShealbhaíomarWe possessed | Níor shealbhaíomarWe did not possess | Ar shealbhaíomar?Did we possess? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Shealbhaigh sibhYou possessed | Níor shealbhaigh sibhYou did not possess | Ar shealbhaigh sibh?Did you possess? |
| siad (they) | Shealbhaigh siadThey possessed | Níor shealbhaigh siadThey did not possess | Ar shealbhaigh siad?Did they possess? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Sealbhaíodh | Níor sealbhaíodh | Ar sealbhaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SealbhaímI possess | Ní shealbhaímI do not possess | An sealbhaím?Do I possess? |
| tú (you) | Sealbhaíonn túYou possess | Ní shealbhaíonn túYou do not possess | An sealbhaíonn tú?Do you possess? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Sealbhaíonn sé / síHe possesses | Ní shealbhaíonn sé / síHe does not possess | An sealbhaíonn sé / sí?Does he possess? |
| sinn (we) | SealbhaímidWe possess | Ní shealbhaímidWe do not possess | An sealbhaímid?Do we possess? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Sealbhaíonn sibhYou possess | Ní shealbhaíonn sibhYou do not possess | An sealbhaíonn sibh?Do you possess? |
| siad (they) | Sealbhaíonn siadThey possess | Ní shealbhaíonn siadThey do not possess | An sealbhaíonn siad?Do they possess? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Sealbhaítear | Ní shealbhaítear | An sealbhaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Sealbhóidh méI will possess | Ní shealbhóidh méI will not possess | An sealbhóidh mé?Will I possess? |
| tú (you) | Sealbhóidh túYou will possess | Ní shealbhóidh túYou will not possess | An sealbhóidh tú?Will you possess? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Sealbhóidh sé / síHe will possess | Ní shealbhóidh sé / síHe will not possess | An sealbhóidh sé / sí?Will he possess? |
| sinn (we) | SealbhóimidWe will possess | Ní shealbhóimidWe will not possess | An sealbhóimid?Will we possess? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Sealbhóidh sibhYou will possess | Ní shealbhóidh sibhYou will not possess | An sealbhóidh sibh?Will you possess? |
| siad (they) | Sealbhóidh siadThey will possess | Ní shealbhóidh siadThey will not possess | An sealbhóidh siad?Will they possess? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Sealbhófar | Ní shealbhófar | An sealbhófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ShealbhóinnI would possess | Ní shealbhóinnI would not possess | An sealbhóinn?Would I possess? |
| tú (you) | ShealbhófáYou would possess | Ní shealbhófáYou would not possess | An sealbhófá?Would you possess? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Shealbhódh sé / síHe would possess | Ní shealbhódh sé / síHe would not possess | An sealbhódh sé / sí?Would he possess? |
| sinn (we) | ShealbhóimisWe would possess | Ní shealbhóimisWe would not possess | An sealbhóimis?Would we possess? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Shealbhódh sibhYou would possess | Ní shealbhódh sibhYou would not possess | An sealbhódh sibh?Would you possess? |
| siad (they) | ShealbhóidísThey would possess | Ní shealbhóidísThey would not possess | An sealbhóidís?Would they possess? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Shealbhófaí | Ní shealbhófaí | An sealbhófaí? |
“Sealbhaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Shealbhaigh an teaghlach an talamh sin fadó.
The family took possession of that land long ago.
Sealbhaíonn páistí teanga go nádúrtha.
Children acquire a language naturally.
Sealbhóidh an stát an foirgneamh an bhliain seo chugainn.
The state will take possession of the building next year.
Shealbhódh sé an teach dá mbeadh an t-airgead aige.
He would take possession of the house if he had the money.
Níor shealbhaigh siad an Ghaeilge go hiomlán riamh.
They never fully acquired Irish.
Ar shealbhaigh tú an mhaoin sin go dleathach?
Did you acquire that property legally?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To possess in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to possess?
The Irish for to possess is sealbhaigh (pronounced “SHAL-uh-wee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is sealbhú.
What is the verbal noun of sealbhaigh?
The verbal noun of sealbhaigh is sealbhú, used after ag for the continuous: ag sealbhú (possessing). The verbal adjective is sealbhaithe.
How do you say sealbhaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Shealbhaigh mé; negative Níor shealbhaigh mé; question Ar shealbhaigh mé?. Future: Sealbhóidh mé; negative Ní shealbhóidh mé; question An sealbhóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of sealbhaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Shealbhóinn (I would possess); negative Ní shealbhóinn; question An sealbhóinn?.
Does sealbhaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Sealbhaigh can mean to possess or to acquire, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is 'sealbhaigh' used in language learning?
It is the usual term for language acquisition: 'sealbhú teanga' means language acquisition, and 'Shealbhaigh sí an Ghaeilge' means she acquired Irish.
