HeyRuaHow to say “gleam” in Irish
- Irish:
- gealán
- English:
- gleam, white, highlight, whiting
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “GYAL-awn” /ˈɟalˠɑːnˠ/
- Plural:
- gealáin (gleams)
- Genitive singular:
- gealáin, an ghealáin (e.g. cith gealáin, a sunny shower)
- Genitive plural:
- gealán, na ngealán (e.g. loinnir na ngealán, the shimmer of the gleams)
What does “gealán” mean?
“Gealán” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- gleam
- A brief or faint appearance of light, or a bright spell such as a break of sunshine.Also: flash, bright spell, glimmer, brightness.
3 other meanings: white or highlight or whiting
- 2white
- The white part of something, especially the white of an egg or of the eye.Also: egg white, white of the eye.
- 3highlight
- A strongly lit area in a picture, or a lighter streak dyed in the hair.Also: highlights.
- 4whiting
- Fine white chalk used for whitening.Also: white chalk.
Other Irish words for gleam: léaró (glimmer), dealraigh (shine)
“Gealán” with the article
The plural of gleam in Irish is gealáin. Here is gealán after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Gealán” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using gealán, the Irish word for gleam.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Gleam in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for gleam?
The Irish for gleam is gealán (pronounced “GYAL-awn”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is gealáin. Depending on context it can also mean white or highlight or whiting.
How do you pronounce gealán in Irish?
Gealán is said like “GYAL-awn” (IPA /ˈɟalˠɑːnˠ/).
What is the plural of gleam in Irish?
The plural of gealán is gealáin; with the article, na gealáin means “the gleams”. The genitive plural is gealán, as in loinnir na ngealán (the shimmer of the gleams).
Does gealán have more than one meaning?
Yes. Gealán can mean gleam, white, highlight or whiting, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does gealán change to ghealán or ngealán?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) gealán becomes mo ghealán (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár ngealán (eclipsis).
What is the difference between gealán and splanc?
Splanc is a sudden flash or spark, while gealán is more often a gleam or a bright spell, as in gealán gréine.
How do I say egg white?
Say gealán uibhe, or simply an gealán when talking about an egg.
