Crowd in Irish (Slua): Meaning, Pronunciation & Examples

Q: What is the Irish for crowd?

The Irish for crowd is slua (pronounced “sloo-uh”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is sluaite. Depending on context it can also mean host or company.

Q: What is the plural of crowd in Irish?

The plural of slua is sluaite; with the article, na sluaite means “the crowds”. The genitive plural is sluaite, as in ag bainistiú sluaite (managing crowds).

Q: Does slua have more than one meaning?

Yes. Slua can mean crowd, host or company, depending on context; the first is the most common.

How to say “crowd” in Irish

Irish:: slua
English:: crowd, host, company
Word type:: noun
Gender:: masculine, fourth declension
Pronunciation:: “sloo-uh” /sˠl̪ˠuə/

Various forms

Plural:: sluaite (crowds)
Genitive singular:: slua, an tslua (e.g. torann an tslua, the noise of the crowd)
Genitive plural:: sluaite, na sluaite (e.g. ag bainistiú sluaite, managing crowds)

What does “slua” mean?

“Slua” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.

crowd: A large number of people gathered together in one place.Also: multitude, throng, gathering.

2 other meanings: host or company

2host: An army or large armed force, especially in older or literary use.Also: army, force.
3company: A large group or body of beings, as in the host of the dead or the fairy host.Also: host, band.

Other Irish words for crowd: scata (crowd), plód (crowd), plódaigh (crowd)

“Slua” with the article

The plural of crowd in Irish is sluaite. Here is slua after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.

an slua

the crowd

No change after an

na sluaite

the crowds

Plural: no change after na

“Slua” in a sentence: Irish examples

Common Irish sentences using slua, the Irish word for crowd.

Bhí slua mór sa tábhairne aréir.

There was a big crowd in the pub last night.

Thosaigh an slua ag liú agus ag bualadh bos.

The crowd started yelling and clapping.

Tháinig daoine ina sluaite chuig an gcluiche.

People came to the match in crowds.

Chaill mé mo dheartháir sa slua.

I lost my brother in the crowd.

Ní raibh mé in ann tú a chloisteáil leis an slua.

I couldn't hear you with the crowd.

Bíonn sluaite turasóirí sa chathair gach samhradh.

There are crowds of tourists in the city every summer.

Bhí slua ag fanacht taobh amuigh den siopa.

A crowd was waiting outside the shop.

Other nouns in Irish

More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.

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Crowd in Irish: frequently asked questions

What is the Irish for crowd?

The Irish for crowd is slua (pronounced “sloo-uh”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is sluaite. Depending on context it can also mean host or company.

How do you pronounce slua in Irish?

Slua is said like “sloo-uh” (IPA /sˠl̪ˠuə/).

What is the plural of crowd in Irish?

The plural of slua is sluaite; with the article, na sluaite means “the crowds”. The genitive plural is sluaite, as in ag bainistiú sluaite (managing crowds).

Does slua have more than one meaning?

Yes. Slua can mean crowd, host or company, depending on context; the first is the most common.

Why does slua change to shlua?

After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo shlua. After ár (our) it stays ár slua, because s does not take eclipsis.

What does 'ina sluaite' mean?

It means 'in crowds' or 'in great numbers', as in 'Tháinig siad ina sluaite', they came in droves.

What is 'ar shlua na marbh'?

It is an idiom meaning 'among the dead', used of people who have died.

Crowd in Irish (Slua): Meaning, Pronunciation, Usage