HeyRuaHow to say “crying” in Irish
- Irish:
- caoineadh
- English:
- crying, lament, elegy
- Word type:
- noun (verbal noun)
- Verbal noun of:
- caoin, to cry (ag caoineadh, crying)
- Gender:
- masculine
- Pronunciation:
- “KEEN-yuh” /ˈkiːnʲə/
- Plural:
- caointe
- Genitive singular:
- caointe, an chaointe (e.g. fuaim an chaointe, the sound of the crying)
- Genitive plural:
- caointe, na gcaointe (e.g. cnuasach na gcaointe, the collection of laments)
What does “caoineadh” mean?
“Caoineadh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- crying
- The act of crying or weeping; verbal noun of the verb caoin.Also: weeping, wailing.
2 other meanings: lament or elegy
- 2lament
- Mourning aloud for someone who has died, or a traditional sung lament for the dead.Also: keening, lamentation, mourning.
- 3elegy
- A poem or song of mourning written for a dead person.Also: dirge, lament poem.
Other Irish words for crying: gol (weeping)
“Caoineadh” as a verbal noun
After ag, caoineadh means crying: it is the verbal noun of the verb caoin (to cry). A noun that follows it goes into the genitive.
“Caoineadh” with the article
The plural of crying in Irish is caointe. Here is caoineadh after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Caoineadh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using caoineadh, the Irish word for crying.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Crying in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for crying?
The Irish for crying is caoineadh (pronounced “KEEN-yuh”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is caointe. Depending on context it can also mean lament or elegy.
How do you pronounce caoineadh in Irish?
Caoineadh is said like “KEEN-yuh” (IPA /ˈkiːnʲə/).
What is the plural of crying in Irish?
The plural of caoineadh is caointe; with the article, it is na caointe. The genitive plural is caointe, as in cnuasach na gcaointe (the collection of laments).
Does caoineadh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Caoineadh can mean crying, lament or elegy, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does caoineadh change to chaoineadh or gcaoineadh?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) caoineadh becomes mo chaoineadh (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár gcaoineadh (eclipsis).
What is the difference between caoineadh and gol?
Both can mean crying, but gol is more about weeping tears, while caoineadh also covers keening and formal laments for the dead.
How do I say someone is crying?
Use ag caoineadh: tá sí ag caoineadh means she is crying.
