lánúin

Irish

Alternative forms

lánú
lánamha, lánamhain, lánamhuin, lánmha, lánughadh (obsolete)^[1]

Etymology

The alternative form lánú and its genitive lánún are due to a reinterpretation of lánúin as the dative of a fifth-declension noun (compare ceathrú (“quarter”), genitive ceathrún, dative ceathrúin).

Pronunciation

(Munster) IPA^(key): (Waterford) /l̪ˠaːˈn̪ˠuː/^[3], (Cork) /l̪ˠɑːˈn̪ˠuː/^[4], (Kerry) /l̪ˠɑːˈn̪ˠuə/^[5] (corresponding to the form lánú)
(Munster) IPA^(key): /l̪ˠɑːˈn̪ˠuːn̪ˠ/ ~ /l̪ˠɑːˈn̪ˠuːnʲ/^[5]
(Connacht) IPA^(key): /ˈl̪ˠɑːn̪ˠuːnʲ/^[6], /ˈl̪ˠaːnˠuːnʲ/^[7]
(Ulster) IPA^(key): /ˈl̪ˠaːnˠũnʲ/^[8]

Noun

lánúin f (genitive singular lánúine or lánúna, nominative plural lánúineacha or lánúnacha)

couple (two partners in a romantic or sexual relationship)

Declension

As a second-declension noun:

Declension of lánúin (second declension)

bare forms
	singular	plural
nominative	lánúin	lánúineacha
vocative	a lánúin	a lánúineacha
genitive	lánúine	lánúineacha
dative	lánúin	lánúineacha

forms with the definite article
	singular	plural
nominative	an lánúin	na lánúineacha
genitive	na lánúine	na lánúineacha
dative	leis an lánúin don lánúin	leis na lánúineacha

As a third-declension noun:

Declension of lánúin (third declension)

bare forms
	singular	plural
nominative	lánúin	lánúnacha
vocative	a lánúin	a lánúnacha
genitive	lánúna	lánúnacha
dative	lánúin	lánúnacha

forms with the definite article
	singular	plural
nominative	an lánúin	na lánúnacha
genitive	na lánúna	na lánúnacha
dative	leis an lánúin don lánúin	leis na lánúnacha

Derived terms

lánúnach (“cohabitating, mating”, adjective)
lánúnas m (“cohabitation, mating”)

References

^ “lánúin”, in Historical Irish Corpus, 1600–1926, Royal Irish Academy
^ Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “lánamain”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
^ Breatnach, Risteard B. (1947) The Irish of Ring, Co. Waterford: A Phonetic Study, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, →ISBN, page 110, line 303
^ Ó Cuív, Brian (1968) The Irish of West Muskerry, Co. Cork: A Phonetic Study, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, →ISBN, page 93, line 171; reprinted 1988
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 Sjoestedt, M. L. (1938) Description d’un parler irlandais de Kerry [Description of an Irish Dialect of Kerry] (in French), Paris: Librairie Ancienne Honoré Champion, section 38, page 31
^ de Bhaldraithe, Tomás (1977) Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge: An Deilbhíocht [The Irish of Cois Fharraige: Accidence] (in Irish), 2nd edition, Institiúid Ard-Léinn Bhaile Átha Cliath [Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies], page 352
^ Mhac an Fhailigh, Éamonn (1968) The Irish of Erris, Co. Mayo: A Phonemic Study, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, section 70, page 18
^ Quiggin, E. C. (1906) A Dialect of Donegal, Cambridge University Press, § 48, page 21