HeyRuaHow to say “glen” in Irish
- Irish:
- gleann
- English:
- glen
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, third declension
- Pronunciation:
- “glyown” /ɟlʲaun̪ˠ/
- Plural:
- gleannta (glens)
- Genitive singular:
- gleanna, an ghleanna (e.g. bun an ghleanna, the bottom of the glen)
- Genitive plural:
- gleannta, na ngleannta (e.g. áilleacht na ngleannta, the beauty of the glens)
What does “gleann” mean?
- glen
- A narrow valley between hills or mountains, often with a river running through it.Also: valley, dale, vale.
“Gleann” with the article
The plural of glen in Irish is gleannta. Here is gleann after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Gleann” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using gleann, the Irish word for glen.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Glen in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for glen?
The Irish for glen is gleann (pronounced “glyown”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is gleannta.
How do you pronounce gleann in Irish?
Gleann is said like “glyown” (IPA /ɟlʲaun̪ˠ/).
What is the plural of glen in Irish?
The plural of gleann is gleannta; with the article, na gleannta means “the glens”. The genitive plural is gleannta, as in áilleacht na ngleannta (the beauty of the glens).
Why does gleann change to ghleann or ngleann?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) gleann becomes mo ghleann (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár ngleann (eclipsis).
Is 'glen' in English place names from 'gleann'?
Yes, place names like Glendalough (Gleann Dá Loch) and Glenties (Na Gleannta) come from 'gleann'.
What is the difference between 'gleann' and 'srath'?
A 'gleann' is usually a narrow, steep valley, while a 'srath' is a broad, flat river valley or holm.
