HeyRuaHow to say “eye” in Irish
- Irish:
- cró
- English:
- eye, outhouse, hovel
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “kroh” /kɾˠoː/
- Plural:
- cróite (eyes)
- Genitive singular:
- cró, an chró (e.g. doras an chró, the door of the shed)
- Genitive plural:
- cróite, na gcróite (e.g. díonta na gcróite, the roofs of the outhouses)
What does “cró” mean?
“Cró” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- eye
- The small hole in a needle through which the thread passes; also any small opening or socket.Also: eye of a needle, socket, aperture, bore.
2 other meanings: outhouse or hovel
- 2outhouse
- A small farm building or shed where animals are kept, such as a cowshed or henhouse.Also: shed, byre, pen, fold.
- 3hovel
- A poor, small and mean dwelling.Also: hut, shack, cabin.
Other Irish words for eye: súil (eye)
“Cró” with the article
The plural of eye in Irish is cróite. Here is cró after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Cró” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using cró, the Irish word for eye.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Eye in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for eye?
The Irish for eye is cró (pronounced “kroh”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is cróite. Depending on context it can also mean outhouse or hovel.
How do you pronounce cró in Irish?
Cró is said like “kroh” (IPA /kɾˠoː/).
What is the plural of eye in Irish?
The plural of cró is cróite; with the article, na cróite means “the eyes”. The genitive plural is cróite, as in díonta na gcróite (the roofs of the outhouses).
Does cró have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cró can mean eye, outhouse or hovel, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does cró change to chró or gcró?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) cró becomes mo chró (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár gcró (eclipsis).
What is the Irish for the eye of a needle?
It is 'cró na snáthaide'; 'súil' is the eye you see with, not the needle's eye.
Is 'cró' the same as 'cnó' or 'cro' in 'cróga'?
No. 'Cró' means an eye, pen or hovel, 'cnó' means a nut, and 'cróga' is an adjective meaning brave.
