HeyRuaHow “cén” works
Cén behaves like the article an: a masculine noun starting with a vowel gets t- (cén t-am, cén t-ainm), a feminine noun is lenited (cén bhliain, cén chaoi), and d and t are left alone (cén tír, cén duine). Cé acu means which of them: cé acu ceann?, which one of them?
séimhiú or h urú or t-
céwhich
+anthe
+amtime
=
Cén t-am é?What time is it?
céwhich
+anthe
+bliainyear
=
Cén bhliain?Which year?
“Cén” in questions
Cén ceann?
Which one?
Cén lá atá ann inniu?
What day is it today?
Cén t-am é?
What time is it?
Cén aois thú?
What age are you?
Cén bhliain?
Which year?
Cén tír?
Which country?
Cén t-ainm atá ort?
What is your name?
Cé acu is fearr leat, tae nó caife?
Which do you prefer, tea or coffee?
Cé acu ceann?
Which one of them?
Other question words
Which in Irish (cén, cé acu): the questions people ask
Why is it cén t-am but cén bhliain?
Cén is cé plus the article an, so the noun does what it does after an: a masculine noun starting with a vowel takes t- (an t-am, cén t-am) and a feminine noun is lenited (an bhliain, cén bhliain).
What is the difference between cén and cé acu?
Cén goes before a noun: cén ceann, cén lá. Cé acu stands on its own and means which of them: Cé acu is fearr leat?