HeyRuaHow to say “quiet” in Irish
- Irish:
- ciúin
- English:
- quiet, calm, gentle
- Word type:
- adjective
- Quieter:
- níos ciúine
- Quietest:
- is ciúine
- Plural:
- ciúine
- Pronunciation:
- “kyoon” /cuːnʲ/
What does “ciúin” mean?
“Ciúin” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- quiet
- Making little or no noise.Also: silent, hushed, soundless.
2 other meanings: calm or gentle
- 2calm
- Peaceful and still, without disturbance, as of a place, the weather or the sea.Also: still, tranquil, peaceful.
- 3gentle
- Of a person: quiet and mild in manner, not loud or excitable.Also: mild, reserved, placid.
“Ciúin” after a noun
An Irish adjective comes after its noun. Here is ciúin after seomra (room, masculine), after oíche (night, feminine) and after a plural.
séimhiú (the h) the ending
After a feminine noun the adjective gets a séimhiú, an h after its first letter: oíche chiúin. After a masculine noun it stays as it is: seomra ciúin.
With a plural noun the adjective takes its plural form, ciúine. It also gets an h after a plural that ends in a slender consonant; after other plurals it does not: oícheanta ciúine.
Quieter, quietest, very quiet
Tá an sráidbhaile níos ciúine ná an chathair. The village is quieter than the city.
| quieter | níos ciúine | in the past tense: ní ba chiúine |
|---|---|---|
| quietest | is ciúine | in the past tense: ba chiúine |
| as quiet as | chomh ciúin le | no change after chomh |
| very quiet | an-chiúin | an- lenites, except d, t and s |
| too quiet | róchiúin | ró- lenites |
“Ciúin” in a sentence: Irish examples
With a masculine noun, a feminine noun, a plural, a comparison and on its own.
Phrases with ciúin: Bí ciúin! (be quiet)
Other adjectives in Irish
More everyday Irish adjectives to learn next.
Phrases with “ciúin”
Quiet in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for quiet?
The Irish for quiet is ciúin (pronounced “kyoon”). It comes after the noun: seomra ciúin, a quiet room; oíche chiúin, a quiet night.
How do you say quieter and quietest in Irish?
níos ciúine is quieter and is ciúine is quietest. In the past tense they become ní ba chiúine and ba chiúine.
Why does ciúin become chiúin?
After a feminine singular noun an adjective is lenited: it gets an h after its first letter. So oíche chiúin (a quiet night) but seomra ciúin (a quiet room), because seomra is masculine.
What is the plural of ciúin?
With a plural noun ciúin becomes ciúine: seomraí ciúine, oícheanta ciúine.
How do you say very quiet in Irish?
an-chiúin. Too quiet is róchiúin, and as quiet as is chomh ciúin le.
Does ciúin have more than one meaning?
Yes. Ciúin can mean quiet, calm or gentle, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'ciúin' and 'socair'?
'Ciúin' mainly means quiet, without noise, while 'socair' means calm or settled, without movement or agitation. Both can describe weather: 'lá ciúin' or 'lá socair'.
How do I say 'quietly' in Irish?
Use 'go ciúin', for example 'Labhair sé go ciúin' means 'He spoke quietly'.
