HeyRuaHow to say “harbour” in Irish
- Irish:
- cuan
- English:
- harbour, bay
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “koo-un” /kuən̪ˠ/
- Plural:
- cuanta (harbours)
- Genitive singular:
- cuain, an chuain (e.g. béal an chuain, mouth of the harbour)
- Genitive plural:
- cuanta, na gcuanta (e.g. cósta na gcuanta, the coast of the harbours)
What does “cuan” mean?
“Cuan” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- harbour
- A sheltered area of water where boats can anchor or tie up safely.Also: harbor, port, haven.
1 other meaning: bay
- 2bay
- A wide curving inlet of the sea, partly enclosed by land.Also: inlet, gulf, cove.
Other Irish words for harbour: calafort (port)
“Cuan” with the article
The plural of harbour in Irish is cuanta. Here is cuan after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Cuan” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using cuan, the Irish word for harbour.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Harbour in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for harbour?
The Irish for harbour is cuan (pronounced “koo-un”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is cuanta. Depending on context it can also mean bay.
How do you pronounce cuan in Irish?
Cuan is said like “koo-un” (IPA /kuən̪ˠ/).
What is the plural of harbour in Irish?
The plural of cuan is cuanta; with the article, na cuanta means “the harbours”. The genitive plural is cuanta, as in cósta na gcuanta (the coast of the harbours).
Does cuan have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cuan can mean harbour or bay, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does cuan change to chuan or gcuan?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) cuan becomes mo chuan (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár gcuan (eclipsis).
What is the difference between cuan, bá and caladh?
Cuan is a harbour or bay in general; bá is mainly a bay as a geographic feature; caladh is a landing place or quay for boats.
