Clois (to hear)

Complete guide to the irregular Irish verb clois / cluin (to hear) across all tenses: past (chuala / ar chuala), present (cloineann / cloiseann), and verbal noun (cloisteáil).

Verbs Irregular Verbs Conjugation Clois Cluin Chuala Clois Meaning I Heard In Irish Ar Chuala Meaning

The verb “to hear” has two main stems in Irish: clois and cluin. The choice between them is mostly a matter of dialect, with cluin being more common in Ulster and clois in Munster. Both are used in the Standard Language.

This verb is considered irregular because its past tense (preterite) uses a completely different stem: chuala. In all other tenses, it follows regular conjugation patterns. Unlike many other irregular verbs, it does not have special dependent forms.

The clois Stem

The stem clois is more common in the south of Ireland (Munster) and is also a valid form in the Standard Language.

Present Indicative

Person	Form
1st Sg.	`cloisim`
2nd Sg.	`cloiseann tú`
3rd Sg.	`cloiseann sé/sí`
1st Pl.	`cloisimid`
2nd Pl.	`cloiseann sibh`
3rd Pl.	`cloiseann siad`
Autonomous	`cloistear`
Relative	`a chloiseas`

Past Indicative (Preterite)

The past tense uses the irregular stem chuala. Note that the autonomous form, chualathas, is also lenited.

Person	Form
1st Sg.	`chuala mé` / `chualas`
2nd Sg.	`chualaís`
3rd Sg.	`chuala sé/sí`
1st Pl.	`chualamar`
2nd Pl.	`chualabhair`
3rd Pl.	`chualadar`
Autonomous	`chualathas`

Imperfect Indicative

Person	Form
1st Sg.	`chloisinn`
2nd Sg.	`chloisteá`
3rd Sg.	`chloiseadh sé/sí`
1st Pl.	`chloisimis`
2nd Pl.	`chloiseadh sibh`
3rd Pl.	`chloisidís`
Autonomous	`chloistí`

Future Tense

Person	Form
1st Sg.	`cloisfead`
2nd Sg.	`cloisfidh tú`
3rd Sg.	`cloisfidh sé/sí`
1st Pl.	`cloisfimid`
2nd Pl.	`cloisfidh sibh`
3rd Pl.	`cloisfidh siad`
Autonomous	`cloisfear`
Relative	`a chloisfeas`

Conditional Mood

Person	Form
1st Sg.	`chloisfinn`
2nd Sg.	`chloisfeá`
3rd Sg.	`chloisfeadh sé/sí`
1st Pl.	`chloisfimis`
2nd Pl.	`chloisfeadh sibh`
3rd Pl.	`chloisfidís`
Autonomous	`chloisfí`

Imperative Mood

Person	Form
1st Sg.	`cloisim`
2nd Sg.	`clois`
3rd Sg.	`cloiseadh sé/sí`
1st Pl.	`cloisimis`
2nd Pl.	`cloisigí`
3rd Pl.	`cloisidís`
Autonomous	`cloistear`

Present Subjunctive

Person	Form
1st Sg.	`go gcloise mé`
2nd Sg.	`go gcloise tú`
3rd Sg.	`go gcloise sé/sí`
1st Pl.	`go gcloisimid`
2nd Pl.	`go gcloise sibh`
3rd Pl.	`go gcloise siad`
Autonomous	`go gcloistear`

Past Subjunctive

Person	Form
1st Sg.	`dá gcloisinn`
2nd Sg.	`dá gcloisteá`
3rd Sg.	`dá gcloiseadh sé/sí`
1st Pl.	`dá gcloisimis`
2nd Pl.	`dá gcloiseadh sibh`
3rd Pl.	`dá gcloisidís`
Autonomous	`dá gcloistí`

Verbal Noun and Adjective

Form	Irish
Verbal Noun	`cloisteáil`
Genitive of VN	`cloisteála`
Verbal Adjective	`cloiste`

The cluin Stem

The stem cluin is characteristic of Ulster Irish but is also used in the Standard Language.