HeyRuaHow to say “to wink” in Irish
- Irish:
- sméid
- English:
- to wink, nod
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- sméideadh (ag sméideadh, winking)
- Verbal adjective:
- sméidte
- Pronunciation:
- “smayd” /sʲmʲeːdʲ/
What does “sméid” mean?
“Sméid” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to wink
- To close one eye briefly as a signal to someone.Also: wink at.
1 other meaning: nod
- 2to nod
- To move your head down and up as a sign to someone, or to beckon them.Also: beckon, signal, nod at.
Other Irish verbs for to wink: caoch (wink)
“Sméid” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Sméid méI winked | Níor sméid méI did not wink | Ar sméid mé?Did I wink? |
| tú (you) | Sméid túYou winked | Níor sméid túYou did not wink | Ar sméid tú?Did you wink? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Sméid sé / síHe winked | Níor sméid sé / síHe did not wink | Ar sméid sé / sí?Did he wink? |
| sinn (we) | SméideamarWe winked | Níor sméideamarWe did not wink | Ar sméideamar?Did we wink? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Sméid sibhYou winked | Níor sméid sibhYou did not wink | Ar sméid sibh?Did you wink? |
| siad (they) | Sméid siadThey winked | Níor sméid siadThey did not wink | Ar sméid siad?Did they wink? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Sméideadh | Níor sméideadh | Ar sméideadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SméidimI wink | Ní sméidimI do not wink | An sméidim?Do I wink? |
| tú (you) | Sméideann túYou wink | Ní sméideann túYou do not wink | An sméideann tú?Do you wink? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Sméideann sé / síHe winks | Ní sméideann sé / síHe does not wink | An sméideann sé / sí?Does he wink? |
| sinn (we) | SméidimidWe wink | Ní sméidimidWe do not wink | An sméidimid?Do we wink? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Sméideann sibhYou wink | Ní sméideann sibhYou do not wink | An sméideann sibh?Do you wink? |
| siad (they) | Sméideann siadThey wink | Ní sméideann siadThey do not wink | An sméideann siad?Do they wink? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Sméidtear | Ní sméidtear | An sméidtear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Sméidfidh méI will wink | Ní sméidfidh méI will not wink | An sméidfidh mé?Will I wink? |
| tú (you) | Sméidfidh túYou will wink | Ní sméidfidh túYou will not wink | An sméidfidh tú?Will you wink? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Sméidfidh sé / síHe will wink | Ní sméidfidh sé / síHe will not wink | An sméidfidh sé / sí?Will he wink? |
| sinn (we) | SméidfimidWe will wink | Ní sméidfimidWe will not wink | An sméidfimid?Will we wink? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Sméidfidh sibhYou will wink | Ní sméidfidh sibhYou will not wink | An sméidfidh sibh?Will you wink? |
| siad (they) | Sméidfidh siadThey will wink | Ní sméidfidh siadThey will not wink | An sméidfidh siad?Will they wink? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Sméidfear | Ní sméidfear | An sméidfear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | SméidfinnI would wink | Ní sméidfinnI would not wink | An sméidfinn?Would I wink? |
| tú (you) | SméidfeáYou would wink | Ní sméidfeáYou would not wink | An sméidfeá?Would you wink? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Sméidfeadh sé / síHe would wink | Ní sméidfeadh sé / síHe would not wink | An sméidfeadh sé / sí?Would he wink? |
| sinn (we) | SméidfimisWe would wink | Ní sméidfimisWe would not wink | An sméidfimis?Would we wink? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Sméidfeadh sibhYou would wink | Ní sméidfeadh sibhYou would not wink | An sméidfeadh sibh?Would you wink? |
| siad (they) | SméidfidísThey would wink | Ní sméidfidísThey would not wink | An sméidfidís?Would they wink? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Sméidfí | Ní sméidfí | An sméidfí? |
“Sméid” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To wink in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to wink?
The Irish for to wink is sméid (pronounced “smayd”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is sméideadh.
What is the verbal noun of sméid?
The verbal noun of sméid is sméideadh, used after ag for the continuous: ag sméideadh (winking). The verbal adjective is sméidte.
How do you say sméid in the past and the future?
Past: Sméid mé; negative Níor sméid mé; question Ar sméid mé?. Future: Sméidfidh mé; negative Ní sméidfidh mé; question An sméidfidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of sméid?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Sméidfinn (I would wink); negative Ní sméidfinn; question An sméidfinn?.
Does sméid have more than one meaning?
Yes. Sméid can mean to wink or to nod, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Which preposition goes with 'sméid'?
Use 'ar' for the person you signal to: 'Sméid sé orm' means 'He winked at me' or 'He nodded to me'.
Does 'sméid' mean wink or nod?
Both: it is any small signal with the eye or head, and context decides. 'Sméid sé a shúil' clearly means 'He winked'.
