in ann

Irish

Alternative forms

• i n-an', i n-ann (obsolete)

Etymology

Apparently a reduced form of in inmhe. The homophony with i ndán (“in store, fated”) in some accents has led some authors to believe the two are the same form, e.g. Sjoestedt-Jonval who gives táim i ndán as the orthography of [t̪ˠɑːi̯mʲ ə n̪ˠɑ̃ːn̪ˠ] “I can”.

Pronunciation

• (Munster) IPA^(key): /əˈn̪ˠɑːn̪ˠ/
• (Aran) IPA^(key): /əˈnɑːn/, /əˈn̪ˠɑːn/
• Homophone: i ndán (some accents)

Adjective

in ann (predicative only)

1. (Kerry, Connacht) able; (together with a form of the verb bí (“to be”)) can

   Níl aon duine eile in ann maith a dhéanamh dhom.

   There is no one else able to do good for me.

   Tá mé in ann gloine a ithe.

   I can eat glass.

Further reading

• Dinneen, Patrick S. (1927) “an’, ann”, in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla, 2nd edition, Dublin: Irish Texts Society
• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “ann”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN