HeyRuaHow to say “to seed” in Irish
- Irish:
- síolaigh
- English:
- to seed, propagate, descend, disseminate
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- síolú (ag síolú, seeding)
- Verbal adjective:
- síolaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “SHEE-lee” /ˈʃiːlˠiː/
What does “síolaigh” mean?
“Síolaigh” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to seed
- To produce seed or to sow seed so that plants grow.Also: sow, run to seed.
3 other meanings: propagate or descend or disseminate
- 2to propagate
- To breed or multiply, as plants or animals do from one generation to the next.Also: breed, reproduce, multiply.
- 3to descend
- To be descended from someone or something, coming down by generation.Also: be descended, spring from.
- 4to disseminate
- To spread something widely, like scattered seed.Also: spread, scatter.
“Síolaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Shíolaigh méI seeded | Níor shíolaigh méI did not seed | Ar shíolaigh mé?Did I seed? |
| tú (you) | Shíolaigh túYou seeded | Níor shíolaigh túYou did not seed | Ar shíolaigh tú?Did you seed? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Shíolaigh sé / síHe seeded | Níor shíolaigh sé / síHe did not seed | Ar shíolaigh sé / sí?Did he seed? |
| sinn (we) | ShíolaíomarWe seeded | Níor shíolaíomarWe did not seed | Ar shíolaíomar?Did we seed? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Shíolaigh sibhYou seeded | Níor shíolaigh sibhYou did not seed | Ar shíolaigh sibh?Did you seed? |
| siad (they) | Shíolaigh siadThey seeded | Níor shíolaigh siadThey did not seed | Ar shíolaigh siad?Did they seed? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Síolaíodh | Níor síolaíodh | Ar síolaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SíolaímI seed | Ní shíolaímI do not seed | An síolaím?Do I seed? |
| tú (you) | Síolaíonn túYou seed | Ní shíolaíonn túYou do not seed | An síolaíonn tú?Do you seed? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Síolaíonn sé / síHe seeds | Ní shíolaíonn sé / síHe does not seed | An síolaíonn sé / sí?Does he seed? |
| sinn (we) | SíolaímidWe seed | Ní shíolaímidWe do not seed | An síolaímid?Do we seed? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Síolaíonn sibhYou seed | Ní shíolaíonn sibhYou do not seed | An síolaíonn sibh?Do you seed? |
| siad (they) | Síolaíonn siadThey seed | Ní shíolaíonn siadThey do not seed | An síolaíonn siad?Do they seed? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Síolaítear | Ní shíolaítear | An síolaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Síolóidh méI will seed | Ní shíolóidh méI will not seed | An síolóidh mé?Will I seed? |
| tú (you) | Síolóidh túYou will seed | Ní shíolóidh túYou will not seed | An síolóidh tú?Will you seed? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Síolóidh sé / síHe will seed | Ní shíolóidh sé / síHe will not seed | An síolóidh sé / sí?Will he seed? |
| sinn (we) | SíolóimidWe will seed | Ní shíolóimidWe will not seed | An síolóimid?Will we seed? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Síolóidh sibhYou will seed | Ní shíolóidh sibhYou will not seed | An síolóidh sibh?Will you seed? |
| siad (they) | Síolóidh siadThey will seed | Ní shíolóidh siadThey will not seed | An síolóidh siad?Will they seed? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Síolófar | Ní shíolófar | An síolófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ShíolóinnI would seed | Ní shíolóinnI would not seed | An síolóinn?Would I seed? |
| tú (you) | ShíolófáYou would seed | Ní shíolófáYou would not seed | An síolófá?Would you seed? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Shíolódh sé / síHe would seed | Ní shíolódh sé / síHe would not seed | An síolódh sé / sí?Would he seed? |
| sinn (we) | ShíolóimisWe would seed | Ní shíolóimisWe would not seed | An síolóimis?Would we seed? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Shíolódh sibhYou would seed | Ní shíolódh sibhYou would not seed | An síolódh sibh?Would you seed? |
| siad (they) | ShíolóidísThey would seed | Ní shíolóidísThey would not seed | An síolóidís?Would they seed? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Shíolófaí | Ní shíolófaí | An síolófaí? |
“Síolaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Shíolaigh an féar sa ghairdín anuraidh.
The grass went to seed in the garden last year.
Síolaíonn na plandaí seo go han-tapa.
These plants seed very quickly.
Síolóidh na bláthanna i mí Lúnasa.
The flowers will seed in August.
Shíolódh an lus dá bhfágfá ann é.
The plant would seed if you left it there.
Níor shíolaigh an tornapa i mbliana.
The turnip did not seed this year.
Ar shíolaigh na crainn sa pháirc?
Did the trees in the field seed?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To seed in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to seed?
The Irish for to seed is síolaigh (pronounced “SHEE-lee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is síolú.
What is the verbal noun of síolaigh?
The verbal noun of síolaigh is síolú, used after ag for the continuous: ag síolú (seeding). The verbal adjective is síolaithe.
How do you say síolaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Shíolaigh mé; negative Níor shíolaigh mé; question Ar shíolaigh mé?. Future: Síolóidh mé; negative Ní shíolóidh mé; question An síolóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of síolaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Shíolóinn (I would seed); negative Ní shíolóinn; question An síolóinn?.
Does síolaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Síolaigh can mean to seed, to propagate, to descend or to disseminate, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'síolaigh' and 'cuir'?
'Cuir' is the everyday verb for sowing seed, as in 'cuir prátaí'. 'Síolaigh' focuses on producing seed or propagating, as when a plant runs to seed.
