HeyRuaHow to say “to spare” in Irish
- Irish:
- spáráil
- English:
- to spare, save
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- spáráil (ag spáráil, sparing)
- Verbal adjective:
- spáráilte
- Pronunciation:
- “SPAW-rawl” /ˈspˠɑːɾˠɑːlʲ/
What does “spáráil” mean?
“Spáráil” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to spare
- To use something sparingly or do without it so it is not wasted or used up.Also: economise, use sparingly, go easy on.
1 other meaning: save
- 2to save
- To keep money, time or effort from being spent.Also: save up, put by.
“Spáráil” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Spáráil méI spared | Níor spáráil méI did not spare | Ar spáráil mé?Did I spare? |
| tú (you) | Spáráil túYou spared | Níor spáráil túYou did not spare | Ar spáráil tú?Did you spare? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Spáráil sé / síHe spared | Níor spáráil sé / síHe did not spare | Ar spáráil sé / sí?Did he spare? |
| sinn (we) | SpárálamarWe spared | Níor spárálamarWe did not spare | Ar spárálamar?Did we spare? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Spáráil sibhYou spared | Níor spáráil sibhYou did not spare | Ar spáráil sibh?Did you spare? |
| siad (they) | Spáráil siadThey spared | Níor spáráil siadThey did not spare | Ar spáráil siad?Did they spare? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Spáráladh | Níor spáráladh | Ar spáráladh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SpárálaimI spare | Ní spárálaimI do not spare | An spárálaim?Do I spare? |
| tú (you) | Spárálann túYou spare | Ní spárálann túYou do not spare | An spárálann tú?Do you spare? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Spárálann sé / síHe spares | Ní spárálann sé / síHe does not spare | An spárálann sé / sí?Does he spare? |
| sinn (we) | SpárálaimidWe spare | Ní spárálaimidWe do not spare | An spárálaimid?Do we spare? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Spárálann sibhYou spare | Ní spárálann sibhYou do not spare | An spárálann sibh?Do you spare? |
| siad (they) | Spárálann siadThey spare | Ní spárálann siadThey do not spare | An spárálann siad?Do they spare? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Spáráiltear | Ní spáráiltear | An spáráiltear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Spárálfaidh méI will spare | Ní spárálfaidh méI will not spare | An spárálfaidh mé?Will I spare? |
| tú (you) | Spárálfaidh túYou will spare | Ní spárálfaidh túYou will not spare | An spárálfaidh tú?Will you spare? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Spárálfaidh sé / síHe will spare | Ní spárálfaidh sé / síHe will not spare | An spárálfaidh sé / sí?Will he spare? |
| sinn (we) | SpárálfaimidWe will spare | Ní spárálfaimidWe will not spare | An spárálfaimid?Will we spare? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Spárálfaidh sibhYou will spare | Ní spárálfaidh sibhYou will not spare | An spárálfaidh sibh?Will you spare? |
| siad (they) | Spárálfaidh siadThey will spare | Ní spárálfaidh siadThey will not spare | An spárálfaidh siad?Will they spare? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Spárálfar | Ní spárálfar | An spárálfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SpárálfainnI would spare | Ní spárálfainnI would not spare | An spárálfainn?Would I spare? |
| tú (you) | SpárálfáYou would spare | Ní spárálfáYou would not spare | An spárálfá?Would you spare? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Spárálfadh sé / síHe would spare | Ní spárálfadh sé / síHe would not spare | An spárálfadh sé / sí?Would he spare? |
| sinn (we) | SpárálfaimisWe would spare | Ní spárálfaimisWe would not spare | An spárálfaimis?Would we spare? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Spárálfadh sibhYou would spare | Ní spárálfadh sibhYou would not spare | An spárálfadh sibh?Would you spare? |
| siad (they) | SpárálfaidísThey would spare | Ní spárálfaidísThey would not spare | An spárálfaidís?Would they spare? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Spárálfaí | Ní spárálfaí | An spárálfaí? |
“Spáráil” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Spáráil mé airgead an samhradh seo caite.
I saved money last summer.
Spárálann sí an t-im i gcónaí.
She always goes easy on the butter.
Spárálfaidh mé mo neart don rás.
I will save my strength for the race.
Spárálfainn níos mó dá mbeadh post agam.
I would save more if I had a job.
Níor spáráil sé aon airgead riamh.
He never saved any money.
Ar spáráil tú aon rud an tseachtain seo?
Did you save anything this week?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To spare in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to spare?
The Irish for to spare is spáráil (pronounced “SPAW-rawl”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is spáráil.
What is the verbal noun of spáráil?
The verbal noun of spáráil is spáráil, used after ag for the continuous: ag spáráil (sparing). The verbal adjective is spáráilte.
How do you say spáráil in the past and the future?
Past: Spáráil mé; negative Níor spáráil mé; question Ar spáráil mé?. Future: Spárálfaidh mé; negative Ní spárálfaidh mé; question An spárálfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of spáráil?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Spárálfainn (I would spare); negative Ní spárálfainn; question An spárálfainn?.
Does spáráil have more than one meaning?
Yes. Spáráil can mean to spare or to save, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'spáráil' and 'sábháil'?
'Spáráil' means to spare or use sparingly, as in 'spáráil an siúcra'. 'Sábháil' is more general for saving, including rescuing someone or saving money and time.
