HeyRuaHow to say “to spot” in Irish
- Irish:
- spotáil
- English:
- to spot
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- spotáil (ag spotáil, spotting)
- Verbal adjective:
- spotáilte
- Pronunciation:
- “SPUT-aal” /ˈspɔt̪ˠaːlʲ/
What does “spotáil” mean?
“Spotáil” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to spot
- To notice or catch sight of someone or something, often briefly or at a distance.Also: notice, catch sight of, see.
1 other meaning:
- 2to spot
- To mark something with spots or small stains.Also: stain, speckle.
Other Irish verbs for to spot: breac (speckle)
“Spotáil” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Spotáil méI spotted | Níor spotáil méI did not spot | Ar spotáil mé?Did I spot? |
| tú (you) | Spotáil túYou spotted | Níor spotáil túYou did not spot | Ar spotáil tú?Did you spot? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Spotáil sé / síHe spotted | Níor spotáil sé / síHe did not spot | Ar spotáil sé / sí?Did he spot? |
| sinn (we) | SpotálamarWe spotted | Níor spotálamarWe did not spot | Ar spotálamar?Did we spot? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Spotáil sibhYou spotted | Níor spotáil sibhYou did not spot | Ar spotáil sibh?Did you spot? |
| siad (they) | Spotáil siadThey spotted | Níor spotáil siadThey did not spot | Ar spotáil siad?Did they spot? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Spotáladh | Níor spotáladh | Ar spotáladh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SpotálaimI spot | Ní spotálaimI do not spot | An spotálaim?Do I spot? |
| tú (you) | Spotálann túYou spot | Ní spotálann túYou do not spot | An spotálann tú?Do you spot? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Spotálann sé / síHe spots | Ní spotálann sé / síHe does not spot | An spotálann sé / sí?Does he spot? |
| sinn (we) | SpotálaimidWe spot | Ní spotálaimidWe do not spot | An spotálaimid?Do we spot? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Spotálann sibhYou spot | Ní spotálann sibhYou do not spot | An spotálann sibh?Do you spot? |
| siad (they) | Spotálann siadThey spot | Ní spotálann siadThey do not spot | An spotálann siad?Do they spot? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Spotáiltear | Ní spotáiltear | An spotáiltear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Spotálfaidh méI will spot | Ní spotálfaidh méI will not spot | An spotálfaidh mé?Will I spot? |
| tú (you) | Spotálfaidh túYou will spot | Ní spotálfaidh túYou will not spot | An spotálfaidh tú?Will you spot? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Spotálfaidh sé / síHe will spot | Ní spotálfaidh sé / síHe will not spot | An spotálfaidh sé / sí?Will he spot? |
| sinn (we) | SpotálfaimidWe will spot | Ní spotálfaimidWe will not spot | An spotálfaimid?Will we spot? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Spotálfaidh sibhYou will spot | Ní spotálfaidh sibhYou will not spot | An spotálfaidh sibh?Will you spot? |
| siad (they) | Spotálfaidh siadThey will spot | Ní spotálfaidh siadThey will not spot | An spotálfaidh siad?Will they spot? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Spotálfar | Ní spotálfar | An spotálfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SpotálfainnI would spot | Ní spotálfainnI would not spot | An spotálfainn?Would I spot? |
| tú (you) | SpotálfáYou would spot | Ní spotálfáYou would not spot | An spotálfá?Would you spot? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Spotálfadh sé / síHe would spot | Ní spotálfadh sé / síHe would not spot | An spotálfadh sé / sí?Would he spot? |
| sinn (we) | SpotálfaimisWe would spot | Ní spotálfaimisWe would not spot | An spotálfaimis?Would we spot? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Spotálfadh sibhYou would spot | Ní spotálfadh sibhYou would not spot | An spotálfadh sibh?Would you spot? |
| siad (they) | SpotálfaidísThey would spot | Ní spotálfaidísThey would not spot | An spotálfaidís?Would they spot? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Spotálfaí | Ní spotálfaí | An spotálfaí? |
“Spotáil” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Spotáil mé mo chara sa slua inné.
I spotted my friend in the crowd yesterday.
Spotálann sé gach botún sa téacs.
He spots every mistake in the text.
Spotálfaidh tú an teach ón mbóthar.
You will spot the house from the road.
Spotálfadh sí an fhadhb láithreach.
She would spot the problem immediately.
Níor spotáil aon duine an gadaí.
Nobody spotted the thief.
Ar spotáil tú an t-éan sin?
Did you spot that bird?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To spot in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to spot?
The Irish for to spot is spotáil (pronounced “SPUT-aal”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is spotáil.
What is the verbal noun of spotáil?
The verbal noun of spotáil is spotáil, used after ag for the continuous: ag spotáil (spotting). The verbal adjective is spotáilte.
How do you say spotáil in the past and the future?
Past: Spotáil mé; negative Níor spotáil mé; question Ar spotáil mé?. Future: Spotálfaidh mé; negative Ní spotálfaidh mé; question An spotálfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of spotáil?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Spotálfainn (I would spot); negative Ní spotálfainn; question An spotálfainn?.
Is 'spotáil' the usual way to say 'notice' in Irish?
'Spotáil' is used informally, but 'tabhair faoi deara' is the more standard way to say 'notice', as in 'Thug mé faoi deara é'.
