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Bracket in Irish (Lúibín): Meaning, Pronunciation, Usage

‘lúibín’ also means: little loop · stitch · ditty

The Irish for bracket is lúibín, a masculine noun (plural lúibíní).
Updated October 2026Report a mistake

How to say “bracket” in Irish

Irish:
lúibín
English:
bracket, little loop, stitch, ditty
Word type:
noun
Gender:
masculine, fourth declension
Pronunciation:
“LOO-been”  /ˈl̪ˠuːbʲiːnʲ/
Various forms
Plural:
lúibíní (brackets)
Genitive singular:
lúibín, an lúibín (e.g. taobh an lúibín, the side of the bracket)
Genitive plural:
lúibíní, na lúibíní (e.g. úsáid na lúibíní, the use of the brackets)

What does “lúibín” mean?

“Lúibín” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.

bracket
A punctuation mark used in pairs to enclose words or numbers, such as ( ) or [ ].Also: parenthesis, round bracket, square bracket.
3 other meanings: little loop or stitch or ditty
2little loop
A small loop or curl, for example in thread, hair or a rope.Also: loop, curl, ringlet.
3stitch
A loop or stitch in knitting or sewing.Also: knitting stitch, loop.
4ditty
A short light song, verse or tune, often with a refrain.Also: refrain, little song.

“Lúibín” with the article

The plural of bracket in Irish is lúibíní. Here is lúibín after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.

an lúibín
the bracket
No change after an
na lúibíní
the brackets
Plural: no change after na

“Lúibín” in a sentence: Irish examples

Common Irish sentences using lúibín, the Irish word for bracket.

Cuir an focal sin idir lúibíní.
Put that word in brackets.
Dhún tú an lúibín róluath.
You closed the bracket too early.
Tá an dáta sa lúibín ag deireadh na habairte.
The date is in the bracket at the end of the sentence.
Scríobh sí na huimhreacha i lúibíní cearnacha.
She wrote the numbers in square brackets.
Ná déan dearmad ar an dara lúibín.
Don't forget the second bracket.
Cuir lúibín timpeall na huimhreach sin.
Put a bracket around that number.
Chaill mé lúibín agus mé ag cniotáil.
I dropped a stitch while knitting.

Other nouns in Irish

More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.

Bracket in Irish: frequently asked questions

What is the Irish for bracket?

The Irish for bracket is lúibín (pronounced “LOO-been”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is lúibíní. Depending on context it can also mean little loop or stitch or ditty.

How do you pronounce lúibín in Irish?

Lúibín is said like “LOO-been” (IPA /ˈl̪ˠuːbʲiːnʲ/).

What is the plural of bracket in Irish?

The plural of lúibín is lúibíní; with the article, na lúibíní means “the brackets”. The genitive plural is lúibíní, as in úsáid na lúibíní (the use of the brackets).

Does lúibín have more than one meaning?

Yes. Lúibín can mean bracket, little loop, stitch or ditty, depending on context; the first is the most common.

How do I say 'in brackets' in Irish?

Say 'idir lúibíní', literally 'between brackets', for example 'Cuir idir lúibíní é'.

How is 'lúibín' related to 'lúb'?

'Lúibín' is the diminutive of 'lúb' (loop), so it originally means a little loop, which gave the bracket sense.

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