HeyRuaHow to say “clean” in Irish
- Irish:
- glan
- English:
- clean, clear, net, complete
- Word type:
- adjective
- Cleaner:
- níos glaine
- Cleanest:
- is glaine
- Plural:
- glana
- Pronunciation:
- “glon” /ɡlˠan̪ˠ/
What does “glan” mean?
“Glan” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- clean
- Free from dirt, marks or stains.Also: spotless, washed, tidy.
3 other meanings: clear or net or complete
- 2clear
- Clear and pure, without anything cloudy or blocking it.Also: pure, distinct, unclouded.
- 3net
- Left over after costs or deductions have been taken away.Also: after deductions.
- 4complete
- Total or utter, often used as an adverb meaning completely.Also: utter, total, entirely.
“Glan” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is glan after éadach (cloth, masculine), after léine (shirt, feminine) and after a plural.
séimhiú (the h) the ending
After a feminine noun the adjective gets a séimhiú, an h after its first letter: léine ghlan. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: éadach glan.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, glana. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: léinte glana.
Cleaner, cleanest, very clean
Tá an t-uisce seo níos glaine ná an t-uisce sin. This water is cleaner than that water.
| cleaner | níos glaine | in the past tense: ní ba ghlaine |
|---|---|---|
| cleanest | is glaine | in the past tense: ba ghlaine |
| as clean as | chomh glan le | no change after chomh |
| very clean | an-ghlan | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too clean | róghlan | ró- lenites |
“Glan” in a sentence: Irish examples
With a masculine noun, a feminine noun, a plural, a comparison and on its own.
Other adjectives in Irish
More everyday Irish adjectives to learn next.
Clean in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for clean?
The Irish for clean is glan (pronounced “glon”). It comes after the noun: éadach glan, a clean cloth; léine ghlan, a clean shirt.
How do you say cleaner and cleanest in Irish?
níos glaine is cleaner and is glaine is cleanest. In the past tense they become ní ba ghlaine and ba ghlaine.
Why does glan become ghlan?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So léine ghlan (a clean shirt) but éadach glan (a clean cloth), because éadach is masculine.
What is the plural of glan?
With a plural noun glan becomes glana: éadaí glana, léinte glana.
How do you say very clean in Irish?
an-ghlan. Too clean is róghlan, and as clean as is chomh glan le.
Does glan have more than one meaning?
Yes. Glan can mean clean, clear, net or complete, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Can 'glan' mean completely?
Yes, placed before or after words it can mean completely, as in 'Chaill sé a mheabhair glan' (He lost his mind completely) or 'glan amach' (outright).
What is the opposite of 'glan'?
The usual opposite is 'salach' (dirty), as in 'éadaí salacha' (dirty clothes).
