cuan
/kʰuan/
cuan is the Gaelic word for a sheltered area of water where ships can find safety from the open sea.
How do you pronounce it?
/kʰuan/
Did you know?
- In Gaelic, the word cuan is a homonym with two entirely different origins: one describes a maritime harbor and the other describes a pack of hounds.
- The term cuan for a harbor is etymologically linked to the concept of 'grasping', suggesting a place that 'holds' or 'grips' ships safely.
- The version of cuan referring to a pack of dogs was historically used as a metaphor for a very close-knit family or a tight group of companions.
Examples in context
- Tha mi a' dol a dh'fhaicinn an cuan.I am going to see the ocean.
Example conversation
Two people are looking at a map of the coast.
- AngusA bheil an long sa chuan?Is the ship in the bay?
- EilidhTha, tha i sàbhailte an sin.Yes, it is safe there.
- AngusTha an cuan seo gu math mòr.This bay is very large.
- EilidhTha, is e cuan math a th' ann.Yes, it is a good bay.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry cuan, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuan, CC BY-SA 4.0.
