HeyRuaHow to say “distant” in Irish
- Irish:
- cian
- English:
- distant, long
- Word type:
- adjective
- More distant:
- níos céine
- Most distant:
- is céine
- Plural:
- ciana
- Pronunciation:
- “kee-un” /ciənˠ/
What does “cian” mean?
“Cian” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- distant
- Far away in space or far back in time.Also: remote, far, far-off.
1 other meaning: long
- 2long
- Lasting a long time.Also: lengthy, long-lasting.
“Cian” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is cian after aistear (journey, masculine), after áit (place, 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: áit chian. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: aistear cian.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, ciana. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant: aistir chiana; after other plurals it does not: áiteanna ciana.
More distant, most distant, very distant
Tá an t-oileán sin níos céine ná an ceann seo. That island is more distant than this one.
| more distant | níos céine | in the past tense: ní ba chéine |
|---|---|---|
| most distant | is céine | in the past tense: ba chéine |
| as distant as | chomh cian le | no change after chomh |
| very distant | an-chian | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too distant | róchian | ró- lenites |
“Cian” 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.
Distant in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for distant?
The Irish for distant is cian (pronounced “kee-un”). It comes after the noun: aistear cian, a distant journey; áit chian, a distant place.
How do you say more distant and most distant in Irish?
níos céine is more distant and is céine is most distant. In the past tense they become ní ba chéine and ba chéine.
Why does cian become chian?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So áit chian (a distant place) but aistear cian (a distant journey), because aistear is masculine.
What is the plural of cian?
With a plural noun cian becomes ciana: aistir chiana, áiteanna ciana. After a plural that ends in a slender consonant it is lenited as well.
How do you say very distant in Irish?
an-chian. Too distant is róchian, and as distant as is chomh cian le.
Does cian have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cian can mean distant or long, depending on context; the first is the most common.
How is 'cian' related to 'i gcéin'?
The phrase 'i gcéin', meaning far away or abroad, comes from the same root, as in 'i bhfad i gcéin', far, far away.
Is 'cian' an everyday word for 'far'?
No, in ordinary speech 'fada' or 'i bhfad' is usual. 'Cian' is mostly literary or found in set phrases and compounds such as 'cianrialtán', remote control.
