HeyRuaHow to say “to clean” in Irish
- Irish:
- glan
- English:
- to clean, clear, clear off
- Word type:
- verb, first-conjugation
- Verbal noun:
- glanadh (ag glanadh, cleaning)
- Verbal adjective:
- glanta
- Pronunciation:
- “glon” /ɡlˠan̪ˠ/
What does “glan” mean?
“Glan” has four alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- to clean
- To make something clean by removing dirt.Also: wash, wipe, tidy.
3 other meanings: clear or clear off
- 2to clear
- To clear something away or remove obstacles, as in clearing land or a path.Also: clear away, remove, clear out.
- 3to clear off
- To go away or leave, often used informally as "glan leat" or "glan as".Also: go away, get out.
- 4to clear
- To pay off or settle a debt or account.Also: pay off, settle.
Other Irish verbs for to clean: nigh (wash)
“Glan” in the different tenses
Every form follows An Caighdeán Oifigiúil.
Aimsir Chaite (Past)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Ghlan méI cleaned | Níor ghlan méI did not clean | Ar ghlan mé?Did I clean? |
| tú (you) | Ghlan túYou cleaned | Níor ghlan túYou did not clean | Ar ghlan tú?Did you clean? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ghlan sé / síHe cleaned | Níor ghlan sé / síHe did not clean | Ar ghlan sé / sí?Did he clean? |
| sinn (we) | GhlanamarWe cleaned | Níor ghlanamarWe did not clean | Ar ghlanamar?Did we clean? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ghlan sibhYou cleaned | Níor ghlan sibhYou did not clean | Ar ghlan sibh?Did you clean? |
| siad (they) | Ghlan siadThey cleaned | Níor ghlan siadThey did not clean | Ar ghlan siad?Did they clean? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Glanadh | Níor glanadh | Ar glanadh? |
Aimsir Láithreach (Present)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | GlanaimI clean | Ní ghlanaimI do not clean | An nglanaim?Do I clean? |
| tú (you) | Glanann túYou clean | Ní ghlanann túYou do not clean | An nglanann tú?Do you clean? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Glanann sé / síHe cleans | Ní ghlanann sé / síHe does not clean | An nglanann sé / sí?Does he clean? |
| sinn (we) | GlanaimidWe clean | Ní ghlanaimidWe do not clean | An nglanaimid?Do we clean? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Glanann sibhYou clean | Ní ghlanann sibhYou do not clean | An nglanann sibh?Do you clean? |
| siad (they) | Glanann siadThey clean | Ní ghlanann siadThey do not clean | An nglanann siad?Do they clean? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Glantar | Ní ghlantar | An nglantar? |
Aimsir Fháistineach (Future)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | Glanfaidh méI will clean | Ní ghlanfaidh méI will not clean | An nglanfaidh mé?Will I clean? |
| tú (you) | Glanfaidh túYou will clean | Ní ghlanfaidh túYou will not clean | An nglanfaidh tú?Will you clean? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Glanfaidh sé / síHe will clean | Ní ghlanfaidh sé / síHe will not clean | An nglanfaidh sé / sí?Will he clean? |
| sinn (we) | GlanfaimidWe will clean | Ní ghlanfaimidWe will not clean | An nglanfaimid?Will we clean? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Glanfaidh sibhYou will clean | Ní ghlanfaidh sibhYou will not clean | An nglanfaidh sibh?Will you clean? |
| siad (they) | Glanfaidh siadThey will clean | Ní ghlanfaidh siadThey will not clean | An nglanfaidh siad?Will they clean? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Glanfar | Ní ghlanfar | An nglanfar? |
Modh Coinníollach (Conditional)
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| mé (I) | GhlanfainnI would clean | Ní ghlanfainnI would not clean | An nglanfainn?Would I clean? |
| tú (you) | GhlanfáYou would clean | Ní ghlanfáYou would not clean | An nglanfá?Would you clean? |
| sé / sí (he / she) | Ghlanfadh sé / síHe would clean | Ní ghlanfadh sé / síHe would not clean | An nglanfadh sé / sí?Would he clean? |
| sinn (we) | GhlanfaimisWe would clean | Ní ghlanfaimisWe would not clean | An nglanfaimis?Would we clean? |
| sibh (you, plural) | Ghlanfadh sibhYou would clean | Ní ghlanfadh sibhYou would not clean | An nglanfadh sibh?Would you clean? |
| siad (they) | GhlanfaidísThey would clean | Ní ghlanfaidísThey would not clean | An nglanfaidís?Would they clean? |
| saorbhriathar (autonomous) | Ghlanfaí | Ní ghlanfaí | An nglanfaí? |
“Glan” in a sentence: Irish examples
Past, present, future and conditional, with a negative and a question.
Ghlan mé an chistin aréir.
I cleaned the kitchen last night.
Glanann sí a seomra gach Satharn.
She cleans her room every Saturday.
Glanfaidh mé na fuinneoga amárach.
I will clean the windows tomorrow.
Ghlanfainn an carr dá mbeadh am agam.
I would clean the car if I had time.
Níor ghlan sé a bhróga fós.
He hasn't cleaned his shoes yet.
Ar ghlan tú do chuid fiacla?
Did you brush your teeth?
Other verbs in Irish
More everyday Irish verbs to learn next.
To clean in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for to clean?
The Irish for to clean is glan (pronounced “glon”). It is a first-conjugation verb; the verbal noun is glanadh.
What is the verbal noun of glan?
The verbal noun of glan is glanadh, used after ag for the continuous: ag glanadh (cleaning). The verbal adjective is glanta.
How do you say glan in the past and the future?
Past: Ghlan mé; negative Níor ghlan mé; question Ar ghlan mé?. Future: Glanfaidh mé; negative Ní ghlanfaidh mé; question An nglanfaidh mé?.
What is the modh coinníollach of glan?
The conditional (modh coinníollach) first person is Ghlanfainn (I would clean); negative Ní ghlanfainn; question An nglanfainn?.
Does glan have more than one meaning?
Yes. Glan can mean to clean, to clear or to clear off, depending on context; the first is the most common.
What is the difference between 'glan' and 'nigh'?
'Glan' means to clean in general, while 'nigh' specifically means to wash with water, as in 'nigh do lámha' (wash your hands).
How do I say 'brush your teeth' with 'glan'?
Say 'glan do chuid fiacla', literally 'clean your teeth'.
