Extension ofan(“in”) withann(“there, in it”), from early modern eclipsinga n-, i n-(“in”) (eg.a dtigh gach Crīstaidhe ―in a house of every Christian,a dtiomna Dhé ―in the revelation of God) fromOld Irishi. CompareIrishi.
- IPA(key): (beforea,o,u or a broad consonant)/ˈan̪ˠən̪ˠ/,(before broadg ork)/ˈan̪ˠəŋ/,(beforee,i or a slender consonant)/ˈan̪ˠəɲ/,(before a consonant)/ˈan̪ˠə/[1]
annan (+ dative,no mutation,before the definite articleanns,combined with the singular definite articlesan,sa,combined with the plural definite articlesna)
- in
- a bheil eann antaigh? ―is hein a house?
- bidh iadann ancoilltean ―they will bein forests
- bha i glè fhadaanns a' bheachd sin ―she wasof that opinion for a long time (literally, “she was very longin that opinion”)
- on(certain geographical features, most notably islands)
- ann an Uibhist a Deas ―on South Uist(this usage is followed inHighland English)
- anns a' chladach ―on the shore
- at(time)
- anns a' bhad ―straight away
- san àm-sa ―at the moment
- Used to indicate possession of a disposition, inherent quality, or permanent nature
- 's e Albannach a thaannam ―I am a Scottish person (literally, “it is a Scottish person that isin me”)
- tha i biorachsa chluas ―she has a keen sense of hearing (literally, “she is pointyin the ear”)
- tha inntinn mhathinnte ―she is clever;she has her head screwed on (literally, “there is a good mindin her”)
- (idiomatic)Used to state possession of certain physical features, e.g. eyes, wrinkles, a limp
- tha sùilean uaineinnte ―she has greeneyes (literally, “there are green eyes in her”)
- Thean does not represent the definite article in this expression and does not change before plural nouns, for "in the" seeanns,sa,san, andsna.
- Before words beginning withb,f,m orp,ann am is used.
- Sometimesan(“in”) is used on its own without theann part.
- ^Borgstrøm, Carl Hj. (1941),A linguistic survey of the Gaelic dialects of Scotland, Vol. II: The dialects of Skye and Ross-shire, Oslo: Norsk Tidsskrift for Sprogvidenskap, page53
