stlaí

Stlaí is a term encountered in Irish language usage, most closely associated with the verb stlaigh, which means to press or push. In contemporary Irish, the imperative form of the verb is commonly used on instructions and signage; for example, Stlaigh! is understood as “Press!” In everyday usage, however, the word most frequently used for a physical button is cnaipe, not stlaí, so stlaí is not the standard term for a button in modern standard Irish.

The noun form stlaí appears infrequently and is largely limited to dialectal or historical contexts. In such cases it can be understood as referring to a pressing action or, less commonly, to a device used for pressing. Because this usage is not widespread in standard Irish today, most practical references for pressing or pushing things rely on the verb stlaigh or on other nouns such as cnaipe for a button.

Phonology and morphology in Irish mean that stlaigh, stlaigh, and related forms vary by tense and person. Dialectal differences can also affect how terms for pressing or devices are expressed. For learners and writers, the clearest guidance is to use stlaigh for the verb meaning “to press” and cnaipe when referring to a button; stlaí, while attested in some sources, is much less common in everyday material.

See also: Irish language verbs, cnaipe (button), signage terminology in Irish.