scoil
/sˠkɔlʲ/feminine
The Irish word for school is scoil.
scoil is a noun used to describe an institution dedicated to teaching and learning.
Meaning: an institution dedicated to teaching and learning (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
scoil is a feminine noun. Because it is feminine, it takes the singular definite article an rather than the masculine article. The plural form of the word is scoileanna. When using the genitive case to express 'of the school', the form becomes na scoile.
How do you pronounce it?
/sˠkɔlʲ/
Did you know?
- The Greek root of scoil actually meant 'leisure' rather than 'study'. Ancient Greeks used the word to describe the freedom from work that allowed one to pursue learning.
- In traditional Irish education, the 'school' was often a hedge school, where children were taught in a field or by a hedge.
- If you were to talk about a 'school of fish' in Irish, you would not use scoil. You would instead use a completely different term for a swarm or shoal of animals.
Examples in context
- Is mise ceann na scoile.I'm the head of the school.This sentence shows how to use scoil when referring to being the head of a school.Tatoeba #3945025 by turklehceleri, translation #3945023 by AlanF_US
- Ní théim ar scoil in aon chor.I never go to school.This sentence is useful for expressing that one does not go to scoil.Tatoeba #3945085 by turklehceleri, translation #3945083 by AlanF_US
- Tá seascair daoine i mo scoil.There are seven people in my school.This sentence demonstrates using scoil to state the number of people in one's school.Tatoeba #6031854 by Djd_9, translation #6091901 by StrugglingToFrench
- Tá mé ag freastal ar scoil.I am attending school.
- Bhuail mé le múinteoir na scoile.I met the school teacher.
- Is maith liom an muinteoir nua sa scoil nua.I like the new teacher in the new school.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Oisín and Siobhán are talking about their day.
- OisínAn bhfuil tú ag an scoil anois?Are you at school now?
- SiobhánTá mé, ach táim ag dul baile.I am, but I am going home.
- OisínAn bhfuil an scoil go hiontach?Is the school wonderful?
- SiobhánTá, ach tá an obair an-deacair.It is, but the work is very hard.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “school” translations and entries scoil, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries scoil, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
