saoil

Stem Alternations in the Genitive

Level 3

Genitive formation can change more than the final written vowel: saol to saoil. Use the attested paradigm rather than a universal letter replacement.

How It Works

Genitive formation can change more than the final written vowel: saol to saoil. Use the attested paradigm rather than a universal letter replacement.

Saol has genitive singular saoil. The combination of vowels represents a particular inflected stem, not a general instruction to rearrange the vowels of every noun. In a definite masculine genitive phrase, the article also lenites the noun's initial where required.

Examples (3)

  1. Tá scéal an tsaoil casta.

    The story of life is complicated.

  2. Sin cuid den saol.

    That is part of life.

  3. Tá taithí saoil aici.

    She has life experience.

How It Connects

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saoilLevel 3Stem Alternations in the Genitive

Learn This First

Observe an attested stem change within the slenderizing genitive family.

Words in This Pattern

saol