cuimhne

Irish

Etymology

From Old Irish cuimne (“faculty of memory; remembrance, memorial”), from cuman (“remembered, memorable”) (compare Breton koun).

Pronunciation

• (Munster) IPA^(key): /ˈkiːnʲə/
• (Aran) IPA^(key): /ˈkɪmʲnə/, /ˈkɪvʲnə/
• (Cois Fharraige) IPA^(key): /ˈkiːmʲɾʲə/, /ˈkiːvʲɾʲə/
• (Ulster) IPA^(key): /ˈkɪmʲnʲə/, /ˈkɪ̃vʲnʲə/

Noun

cuimhne f (genitive singular cuimhne, nominative plural cuimhní)

1. memory (with ar plus the thing or person remembered)

   Tá cuimhne agam ar an lá sin. ― I remember that day. (literally, “I have a memory of that day.”)

Declension

Declension of cuimhne (fourth declension)

bare forms case singular plural nominative cuimhne cuimhní vocative a chuimhne a chuimhní genitive cuimhne cuimhní dative cuimhne cuimhní forms with the definite article case singular plural nominative an chuimhne na cuimhní genitive na cuimhne na gcuimhní dative leis an gcuimhne don chuimhne leis na cuimhní

Derived terms

• buanchuimhne f (“lasting remembrance”)
• cuimhne dhinimiciúil f (“dynamic memory”)
• cuimhne inléite amháin f (“read-only memory”)
• cuimhne randamrochtana f (“random access memory”)
• cuimhneach (“recollective; reflective, thoughtful”, adjective)
• cuimhneachán m (“commemoration; memento, souvenir”)
• cuimhnigh (“remember”, verb)
• cuir i gcuimhne (“remind”, verb)
• díchuimhne f (“forgetfulness”)
• méaróg chuimhne f (“pen drive”)

Related terms

• is cuimhin le (“remember”)
• cuimhneachán m (“commemoration; memento, souvenir”)
• cuimhnigh (“remember”, verb)

Mutation

Mutated forms of cuimhne

radical	lenition	eclipsis
cuimhne	chuimhne	gcuimhne

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Modern Irish.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

Further reading

• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “cuimhne”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
• Dinneen, Patrick S. (1904) “cuiṁne”, in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla, 1st edition, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, page 209
• de Bhaldraithe, Tomás (1959) “cuimhne”, in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm
• “cuimhne”, in New English-Irish Dictionary, Foras na Gaeilge, 2013-2025

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

From Old Irish cuimne (“faculty of memory; remembrance, memorial”), from cuman (“remembered, memorable”).

Pronunciation

• (Lewis, Harris) IPA^(key): /ˈkʰɤ̃ĩnə/
• (Uist) IPA^(key): /ˈkʰuiɲə/, [ˈkʰʉiɲə]
• (Barra) IPA^(key): [ˈkʰʉiɲʌ]
• (Islay) IPA^(key): /ˈkʰuɲːə/

Noun

cuimhne f (genitive singular cuimhne, plural cuimhneachan)

1. memory, recollection

   Nach glan a’ chuimhne a tha agaibh! ― How accurate your memory is!

   Tha cuimhne agam ort. ― I remember you. (literally, “I have a memory of you.”)

Derived terms

• bi cuimhne aig (“remember, recollect”)
• cuimhneachan (“memorial, commemoration; remembrance, souvenir, keepsake, memento; memorandum; mnemonic”)

Related terms

• cuimhnich (“to remember, recall, recollect; commemorate”)

Mutation

Mutation of cuimhne

radical	lenition
cuimhne	chuimhne

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Scottish Gaelic.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.