HeyRuaHow to say “cheek” in Irish
- Irish:
- grua
- English:
- cheek, brow, facet
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “groo-uh” /ɡɾˠuə/
- Plural:
- gruanna (cheeks)
- Genitive singular:
- grua, na grua (e.g. lasadh na grua, the flush of the cheek)
- Genitive plural:
- gruanna, na ngruanna (e.g. lasadh na ngruanna, the flush of the cheeks)
What does “grua” mean?
“Grua” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- cheek
- The side of the face below the eye.Also: face, cheekbone.
“Grua” with the article
The plural of cheek in Irish is gruanna. Here is grua after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Grua” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using grua, the Irish word for cheek.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Cheek in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for cheek?
The Irish for cheek is grua (pronounced “groo-uh”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is gruanna. Depending on context it can also mean brow or facet.
How do you pronounce grua in Irish?
Grua is said like “groo-uh” (IPA /ɡɾˠuə/).
What is the plural of cheek in Irish?
The plural of grua is gruanna; with the article, na gruanna means “the cheeks”. The genitive plural is gruanna, as in lasadh na ngruanna (the flush of the cheeks).
Does grua have more than one meaning?
Yes. Grua can mean cheek, brow or facet, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does grua change to ghrua or ngrua?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) grua becomes mo ghrua (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár ngrua (eclipsis).
What is the difference between grua and leiceann?
Both mean cheek; leiceann is the everyday word in speech, while grua is common too and more frequent in literary or poetic language, as in 'gruanna dearga'.
