Focal an Lae #41
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: clann (KLAHN)
Meaning: clann = children, family, offspring, descendants
Usage:
- Tá clann mhór aici. (TAW KLAHN WOHR EH-kih) = She has a big family; she has a lot of children.
- pleanáil chlainne (PLAN-ah-il XLEHN-yuh) = family planning
- clann clainne (KLAHN KLEHN-yuh) = grandchildren (lit., children of children)
- Clann Dónaill (... DOH-nill, ll as in “million”) = the offspring of Dónaill, the McDonnells
History: Old Irish “cland” was borrowed at an early date, when Irish still lacked the sound “p”,
from Latin “planta” (young plant, sprout), which comes from the verb “plantare” (to plant; literally, to drive in with the sole of
the foot) from “planta” (sole of the foot), from the Indo-European root *plat- (to spread).
English cognates include “flat”, “plate”, “plant” and “clan”.
Scottish Gaelic: clann