HeyRuaHow to say “to hear” in Irish
- Irish:
- cluin
- English:
- to hear, hear of
- Word type:
- verb, irregular
- Verbal noun:
- cluinstin (ag cluinstin, hearing)
- Verbal adjective:
- cluinte
- Pronunciation:
- “klin” /kl̪ˠɪnʲ/
What does “cluin” mean?
“Cluin” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to hear
- To perceive a sound or voice with your ears.Also: listen to.
1 other meaning: hear of
- 2to hear of
- To learn news or information about something or someone by being told.Also: hear about, learn of.
Other Irish verbs for to hear: clois (hear)
“Cluin” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Irregular verb. Cluin is one of the eleven irregular verbs in Irish, so its forms do not follow the regular pattern.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Chuala méI heard | Níor chuala méI did not hear | Ar chuala mé?Did I hear? |
| tú (you) | Chuala túYou heard | Níor chuala túYou did not hear | Ar chuala tú?Did you hear? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chuala sé / síHe heard | Níor chuala sé / síHe did not hear | Ar chuala sé / sí?Did he hear? |
| sinn (we) | ChualamarWe heard | Níor chualamarWe did not hear | Ar chualamar?Did we hear? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chuala sibhYou heard | Níor chuala sibhYou did not hear | Ar chuala sibh?Did you hear? |
| siad (they) | Chuala siadThey heard | Níor chuala siadThey did not hear | Ar chuala siad?Did they hear? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Chualathas | Níor chualathas | Ar chualathas? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | CluinimI hear | Ní chluinimI do not hear | An gcluinim?Do I hear? |
| tú (you) | Cluineann túYou hear | Ní chluineann túYou do not hear | An gcluineann tú?Do you hear? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cluineann sé / síHe hears | Ní chluineann sé / síHe does not hear | An gcluineann sé / sí?Does he hear? |
| sinn (we) | CluinimidWe hear | Ní chluinimidWe do not hear | An gcluinimid?Do we hear? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cluineann sibhYou hear | Ní chluineann sibhYou do not hear | An gcluineann sibh?Do you hear? |
| siad (they) | Cluineann siadThey hear | Ní chluineann siadThey do not hear | An gcluineann siad?Do they hear? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cluintear | Ní chluintear | An gcluintear? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Cluinfidh méI will hear | Ní chluinfidh méI will not hear | An gcluinfidh mé?Will I hear? |
| tú (you) | Cluinfidh túYou will hear | Ní chluinfidh túYou will not hear | An gcluinfidh tú?Will you hear? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Cluinfidh sé / síHe will hear | Ní chluinfidh sé / síHe will not hear | An gcluinfidh sé / sí?Will he hear? |
| sinn (we) | CluinfimidWe will hear | Ní chluinfimidWe will not hear | An gcluinfimid?Will we hear? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Cluinfidh sibhYou will hear | Ní chluinfidh sibhYou will not hear | An gcluinfidh sibh?Will you hear? |
| siad (they) | Cluinfidh siadThey will hear | Ní chluinfidh siadThey will not hear | An gcluinfidh siad?Will they hear? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Cluinfear | Ní chluinfear | An gcluinfear? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | ChluinfinnI would hear | Ní chluinfinnI would not hear | An gcluinfinn?Would I hear? |
| tú (you) | ChluinfeáYou would hear | Ní chluinfeáYou would not hear | An gcluinfeá?Would you hear? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Chluinfeadh sé / síHe would hear | Ní chluinfeadh sé / síHe would not hear | An gcluinfeadh sé / sí?Would he hear? |
| sinn (we) | ChluinfimisWe would hear | Ní chluinfimisWe would not hear | An gcluinfimis?Would we hear? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Chluinfeadh sibhYou would hear | Ní chluinfeadh sibhYou would not hear | An gcluinfeadh sibh?Would you hear? |
| siad (they) | ChluinfidísThey would hear | Ní chluinfidísThey would not hear | An gcluinfidís?Would they hear? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Chluinfí | Ní chluinfí | An gcluinfí? |
“Cluin” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To hear in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to hear?
The Irish for to hear is cluin (pronounced “klin”). It is an irregular verb; the verbal noun is cluinstin.
What is the verbal noun of cluin?
The verbal noun of cluin is cluinstin, used after ag for the continuous: ag cluinstin (hearing). The verbal adjective is cluinte.
How do you say cluin in the past and the future?
Past: Chuala mé; negative Níor chuala mé; question Ar chuala mé?. Future: Cluinfidh mé; negative Ní chluinfidh mé; question An gcluinfidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of cluin?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Chluinfinn (I would hear); negative Ní chluinfinn; question An gcluinfinn?.
Is cluin an irregular verb?
Cluin is one of the eleven irregular verbs in Irish, so its forms do not follow the regular pattern. The tables above give every form.
Does cluin have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cluin can mean to hear or to hear of, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'cluin' and 'clois'?
They mean the same thing, 'to hear'. 'Cluin' is the northern and standard headword form, while 'clois' (verbal noun 'cloisteáil') is used in Connacht and Munster; both share the past tense 'chuala'.
How is 'cluin' different from 'éist'?
'Cluin' means to hear a sound, while 'éist le' means to listen to something deliberately, as in 'D'éist mé leis an gceol'.
