a lán

See also: Appendix:Variations of "alan"

Irish

Etymology

Literally ‘its fullness’.

Pronunciation

• (Munster, Connacht) IPA^(key): [əˈl̪ˠɑːnˠ]
• (Ulster) IPA^(key): [əˈl̪ˠæːnˠ]

Noun

a lán (followed by the genitive case, by ag, or by de)

1. much, many, a lot

   Tá a lán airgid aige. ― He has a lot of money.

   Bhí a lán daoine sa tseomra. ― There were many people in the room.

   Is fíor a lán den scéal. ― Much of the story is true.

   Shiúil sé a lán. ― He walked a lot.

   Síleann a lán againn go bhfuil tú go hálainn. ― Many of us think you’re beautiful.

Synonyms

• mórán (in negatives and questions)
• neart

Further reading

• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “a”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “lán”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
• de Bhaldraithe, Tomás (1959) “a lán”, in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm
• “a lán”, in New English-Irish Dictionary, Foras na Gaeilge, 2013-2025