HeyRuaHow to say “open mouth” in Irish
- Irish:
- clab
- English:
- open mouth, thick-lipped mouth, garrulity
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “klab” /klˠab/
- Plural:
- clabanna (open mouths)
- Genitive singular:
- claib, an chlaib (e.g. oscailt an chlaib, the opening of the gob)
- Genitive plural:
- clabanna, na gclabanna (e.g. dúnadh na gclabanna, the shutting of the gobs)
What does “clab” mean?
“Clab” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- open mouth
- A wide open mouth, especially one gaping or hanging open.Also: gob, gaping mouth, mouth.
2 other meanings: thick-lipped mouth or garrulity
- 2thick-lipped mouth
- A large mouth with thick lips.Also: big mouth, blubber lips.
- 3garrulity
- Too much talk or chatter; a loose tongue.Also: chatter, idle talk, loose talk.
“Clab” with the article
The plural of open mouth in Irish is clabanna. Here is clab after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Clab” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using clab, the Irish word for open mouth.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Open mouth in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for open mouth?
The Irish for open mouth is clab (pronounced “klab”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is clabanna. Depending on context it can also mean thick-lipped mouth or garrulity.
How do you pronounce clab in Irish?
Clab is said like “klab” (IPA /klˠab/).
What is the plural of open mouth in Irish?
The plural of clab is clabanna; with the article, na clabanna means “the open mouths”. The genitive plural is clabanna, as in dúnadh na gclabanna (the shutting of the gobs).
Does clab have more than one meaning?
Yes. Clab can mean open mouth, thick-lipped mouth or garrulity, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does clab change to chlab or gclab?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) clab becomes mo chlab (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár gclab (eclipsis).
Is 'clab' polite?
No, 'clab' is informal and somewhat rude, like English 'gob'; the neutral word for mouth is 'béal'. 'Dún do chlab' means 'shut your gob'.
What is a 'clabaire'?
A 'clabaire' is a chatterbox or loud-mouthed person, formed from 'clab'.
