Focal an Lae #75
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: cluas (KLOO-uhs)
Meaning: cluas = ear; handle
Usage:
- Tá cluas ghéar aici. (TAW KLOO-uhs YAYR EHK-yih) = She has sharp ears. (lit., a sharp ear) A Vulcan??
- Cuir cluas ort anois! (KWIHR KLOO-uhs ort uh-NISH) = Listen up now! (lit., put an ear on-you now)
- Bhris sí cluas an chupáin. (VRISH SHEE KLOO-uhs uh XU-paw-ihn) = She broke the handle of the cup.
History: Old Irish “clúas” comes from Common Celtic *klowstā (compare Welsh “clust”), from the Indo-European root *kleu- (to hear).
The Irish verb “clois” (to hear) and its related forms are from the same root.
English cognates include “listen” (<- Old English “hlysnan”) and “loud” (<- OE “hlūd”).
Scottish Gaelic: cluas