HeyRuaHow to say “horseshoe” in Irish
- Irish:
- crú
- English:
- horseshoe
- Word type:
- noun (verbal noun)
- Verbal noun of:
- crúigh, to milk (ag crú, milking)
- Gender:
- masculine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “kroo” /kɾˠuː/
- Plural:
- crúite (horseshoes)
- Genitive singular:
- crú, an chrú (e.g. cruth an chrú, the shape of the horseshoe)
- Genitive plural:
- crúite, na gcrúite (e.g. tairní na gcrúite, the horseshoe nails)
What does “crú” mean?
- horseshoe
- A curved piece of iron nailed to the bottom of a horse's hoof to protect it.Also: shoe, horse shoe.
“Crú” as a verbal noun
After ag, crú means milking: it is the verbal noun of the verb crúigh (to milk). A noun that follows it goes into the genitive.
“Crú” with the article
The plural of horseshoe in Irish is crúite. Here is crú after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Crú” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using crú, the Irish word for horseshoe.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Horseshoe in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for horseshoe?
The Irish for horseshoe is crú (pronounced “kroo”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is crúite.
How do you pronounce crú in Irish?
Crú is said like “kroo” (IPA /kɾˠuː/).
What is the plural of horseshoe in Irish?
The plural of crú is crúite; with the article, na crúite means “the horseshoes”. The genitive plural is crúite, as in tairní na gcrúite (the horseshoe nails).
Why does crú change to chrú or gcrú?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) crú becomes mo chrú (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár gcrú (eclipsis).
What is the verb for shoeing a horse?
The verb is 'crúigh', as in 'capall a chrú', to shoe a horse; the same verb 'crúigh' also means to milk, as in 'ag crú na mbó', so context decides.
Is 'crú' used for a person's shoe?
No, a shoe worn by a person is 'bróg'; 'crú' is the iron shoe of a horse or other animal.
