HeyRuaHow to say “to stain” in Irish
- Irish:
- smálaigh
- English:
- to stain, tarnish
- Word type:
- verb, second-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- smálú (ag smálú, staining)
- Verbal adjective:
- smálaithe
- Pronunciation:
- “SMAW-lee” /ˈsmˠaːlˠə/
What does “smálaigh” mean?
“Smálaigh” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to stain
- To mark something with a stain or blemish, making it dirty.Also: blemish, smudge, soil.
1 other meaning: tarnish
- 2to tarnish
- To spoil the good name or reputation of someone or something.Also: sully, besmirch, taint.
“Smálaigh” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Smálaigh méI stained | Níor smálaigh méI did not stain | Ar smálaigh mé?Did I stain? |
| tú (you) | Smálaigh túYou stained | Níor smálaigh túYou did not stain | Ar smálaigh tú?Did you stain? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Smálaigh sé / síHe stained | Níor smálaigh sé / síHe did not stain | Ar smálaigh sé / sí?Did he stain? |
| sinn (we) | SmálaíomarWe stained | Níor smálaíomarWe did not stain | Ar smálaíomar?Did we stain? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Smálaigh sibhYou stained | Níor smálaigh sibhYou did not stain | Ar smálaigh sibh?Did you stain? |
| siad (they) | Smálaigh siadThey stained | Níor smálaigh siadThey did not stain | Ar smálaigh siad?Did they stain? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Smálaíodh | Níor smálaíodh | Ar smálaíodh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SmálaímI stain | Ní smálaímI do not stain | An smálaím?Do I stain? |
| tú (you) | Smálaíonn túYou stain | Ní smálaíonn túYou do not stain | An smálaíonn tú?Do you stain? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Smálaíonn sé / síHe stains | Ní smálaíonn sé / síHe does not stain | An smálaíonn sé / sí?Does he stain? |
| sinn (we) | SmálaímidWe stain | Ní smálaímidWe do not stain | An smálaímid?Do we stain? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Smálaíonn sibhYou stain | Ní smálaíonn sibhYou do not stain | An smálaíonn sibh?Do you stain? |
| siad (they) | Smálaíonn siadThey stain | Ní smálaíonn siadThey do not stain | An smálaíonn siad?Do they stain? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Smálaítear | Ní smálaítear | An smálaítear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Smálóidh méI will stain | Ní smálóidh méI will not stain | An smálóidh mé?Will I stain? |
| tú (you) | Smálóidh túYou will stain | Ní smálóidh túYou will not stain | An smálóidh tú?Will you stain? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Smálóidh sé / síHe will stain | Ní smálóidh sé / síHe will not stain | An smálóidh sé / sí?Will he stain? |
| sinn (we) | SmálóimidWe will stain | Ní smálóimidWe will not stain | An smálóimid?Will we stain? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Smálóidh sibhYou will stain | Ní smálóidh sibhYou will not stain | An smálóidh sibh?Will you stain? |
| siad (they) | Smálóidh siadThey will stain | Ní smálóidh siadThey will not stain | An smálóidh siad?Will they stain? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Smálófar | Ní smálófar | An smálófar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SmálóinnI would stain | Ní smálóinnI would not stain | An smálóinn?Would I stain? |
| tú (you) | SmálófáYou would stain | Ní smálófáYou would not stain | An smálófá?Would you stain? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Smálódh sé / síHe would stain | Ní smálódh sé / síHe would not stain | An smálódh sé / sí?Would he stain? |
| sinn (we) | SmálóimisWe would stain | Ní smálóimisWe would not stain | An smálóimis?Would we stain? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Smálódh sibhYou would stain | Ní smálódh sibhYou would not stain | An smálódh sibh?Would you stain? |
| siad (they) | SmálóidísThey would stain | Ní smálóidísThey would not stain | An smálóidís?Would they stain? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Smálófaí | Ní smálófaí | An smálófaí? |
“Smálaigh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Smálaigh an caife mo léine bhán.
The coffee stained my white shirt.
Smálaíonn fíon dearg an t-éadach boird go héasca.
Red wine stains the tablecloth easily.
Smálóidh an scannal sin a chlú.
That scandal will tarnish his reputation.
Smálódh an dúch do lámha dá mbeifeá míchúramach.
The ink would stain your hands if you were careless.
Níor smálaigh an bháisteach an péint nua.
The rain did not stain the new paint.
Ar smálaigh an tae an cairpéad?
Did the tea stain the carpet?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To stain in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to stain?
The Irish for to stain is smálaigh (pronounced “SMAW-lee”). It is a second-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is smálú.
What is the verbal noun of smálaigh?
The verbal noun of smálaigh is smálú, used after ag for the continuous: ag smálú (staining). The verbal adjective is smálaithe.
How do you say smálaigh in the past and the future?
Past: Smálaigh mé; negative Níor smálaigh mé; question Ar smálaigh mé?. Future: Smálóidh mé; negative Ní smálóidh mé; question An smálóidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of smálaigh?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Smálóinn (I would stain); negative Ní smálóinn; question An smálóinn?.
Does smálaigh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Smálaigh can mean to stain or to tarnish, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is 'smálaigh' different from 'salaigh'?
'Salaigh' means to make dirty in general, while 'smálaigh' suggests a stain or blemish, often used figuratively, as in 'smálaigh sé a chlú' (he tarnished his reputation).
