HeyRuaHow to say “rain cloud” in Irish
- Irish:
- cithnéal
- English:
- rain cloud
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine
- Pronunciation:
- “KIH-hyay-al” /ˈcɪhˌnʲeːl̪ˠ/
- Plural:
- cithnéalta (rain clouds)
- Genitive singular:
- cithnéil, an chithnéil (e.g. scáth an chithnéil, the shadow of the rain cloud)
- Genitive plural:
- cithnéalta, na gcithnéalta (e.g. ag bailiú na gcithnéalta, gathering the rain clouds)
What does “cithnéal” mean?
- rain cloud
- A dark cloud that brings a shower of rain.Also: shower cloud, cumulonimbus, storm cloud.
Other Irish words for rain cloud: néal (cloud), scamall (cloud)
“Cithnéal” with the article
The plural of rain cloud in Irish is cithnéalta. Here is cithnéal after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Cithnéal” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using cithnéal, the Irish word for rain cloud.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Rain cloud in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for rain cloud?
The Irish for rain cloud is cithnéal (pronounced “KIH-hyay-al”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is cithnéalta.
How do you pronounce cithnéal in Irish?
Cithnéal is said like “KIH-hyay-al” (IPA /ˈcɪhˌnʲeːl̪ˠ/).
What is the plural of rain cloud in Irish?
The plural of cithnéal is cithnéalta; with the article, na cithnéalta means “the rain clouds”. The genitive plural is cithnéalta, as in ag bailiú na gcithnéalta (gathering the rain clouds).
Why does cithnéal change to chithnéal or gcithnéal?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) cithnéal becomes mo chithnéal (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár gcithnéal (eclipsis).
How is 'cithnéal' different from 'scamall'?
'Scamall' is any cloud, while 'cithnéal' is specifically a shower cloud, from 'cith' (shower) and 'néal' (cloud).
