HeyRuaHow to say “curlew” in Irish
- Irish:
- cuirliún
- English:
- curlew
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “KIR-loon” /ˈkɪɾʲlʲuːnʲ/
- Plural:
- cuirliúin (curlews)
- Genitive singular:
- cuirliúin, an chuirliúin (e.g. glao an chuirliúin, the call of the curlew)
- Genitive plural:
- cuirliún, na gcuirliún (e.g. ealta na gcuirliún, the flock of curlews)
What does “cuirliún” mean?
- curlew
- A large brown wading bird with a long curved bill, found on shores, bogs and wet fields.Also: wading bird, shorebird.
“Cuirliún” with the article
The plural of curlew in Irish is cuirliúin. Here is cuirliún after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Cuirliún” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using cuirliún, the Irish word for curlew.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Curlew in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for curlew?
The Irish for curlew is cuirliún (pronounced “KIR-loon”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is cuirliúin.
How do you pronounce cuirliún in Irish?
Cuirliún is said like “KIR-loon” (IPA /ˈkɪɾʲlʲuːnʲ/).
What is the plural of curlew in Irish?
The plural of cuirliún is cuirliúin; with the article, na cuirliúin means “the curlews”. The genitive plural is cuirliún, as in ealta na gcuirliún (the flock of curlews).
Why does cuirliún change to chuirliún or gcuirliún?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) cuirliún becomes mo chuirliún (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár gcuirliún (eclipsis).
Is 'cuirliún' the same as 'crotach'?
Yes, both mean curlew; 'crotach' is the more traditional word in many dialects, while 'cuirliún' is also widely used.
