cnámh

See also: cnàmh

Irish

Alternative forms

• cnáimh

Etymology

From Old Irish cnáim, from Proto-Celtic *knāmis, from Proto-Indo-European *kónh₂m (“leg”).

Pronunciation

• (Munster) IPA^(key): /kn̪ˠɑːvˠ/, [kn̪ˠɑ̃ːvˠ]
• (Aran) IPA^(key): /knɑːvʲ/, /knaːvʲ/ (corresponding to the spelling cnáimh)
• (Ulster) IPA^(key): /kɾãːw/

Noun

cnámh f (genitive singular cnáimhe, nominative plural cnámha)
cnámh m (genitive singular cnámha, nominative plural cnámha)

1. (anatomy) bone
2. (in the plural) bones (musical instrument)

Declension

As a second-declension feminine noun

Declension of cnámh

Second declension

Bare forms Case Singular Plural Nominative cnámh cnámha Vocative a chnámh a chnámha Genitive cnáimhe cnámh Dative cnámh cnáimh (archaic, dialectal) cnámha

Forms with the definite article Case Singular Plural Nominative an chnámh na cnámha Genitive na cnáimhe na gcnámh Dative leis an gcnámh leis an gcnáimh (archaic, dialectal) don chnámh don chnáimh (archaic, dialectal) leis na cnámha

As a third-declension masculine noun

Declension of cnámh

Third declension

Bare forms: Case Singular Plural Nominative cnámh cnámha Vocative a chnámh a chnámha Genitive cnámha cnámha Dative cnámh cnámha

Forms with the definite article: Case Singular Plural Nominative an cnámh na cnámha Genitive an chnámha na gcnámha Dative leis an gcnámh don chnámh leis na cnámha

Derived terms

• cnámhar (“ossiferous”)
• créachta chnámh (“bone tuberculosis”)
• deisiú cnámh (“bonesetting”)
• mórchnámhach (“big-boned”)

Mutation

Irish mutation
Radical	Lenition	Eclipsis
cnámh	chnámh	gcnámh
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Further reading

• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “cnámh”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
• G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “cnáim”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
• Finck, F. N. (1899) Die araner mundart (in German), volume II, Marburg: Elwert’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, page 155
• Entries containing “cnámh” in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm, 1959, by Tomás de Bhaldraithe.
• Entries containing “cnámh” in New English-Irish Dictionary by Foras na Gaeilge.
• Quiggin, E. C. (1906) A Dialect of Donegal, Cambridge University Press, page 58
• Sjoestedt, M. L. (1931) Phonétique d’un parler irlandais de Kerry (in French), Paris: Librairie Ernest Leroux, page 20