Descriptive Gaelic
Here are some translations for family, colors, descriptions, and whatever else. I see a lot of requests for help in naming farms, pets, etc., so here are some
Here are some translations for family, colors, descriptions, and whatever else. I see a lot of requests for help in naming farms, pets, etc., so here are some Scots Gaelic words. Keep in mind that I don't speak Gaelic, and the bulk of my info came from online dictionaries and resources. Any resources I used can be found on my Links page. Especially helpful is MacBain's Gaelic Dictionary. Many words have their own in Gaelic, for example, a small cupboard (turlas), small drop (druabag), and different birds (ean is "a bird", but feitheid is "a bird of prey">, so you may find a word in a dictionary that describes something exactly or close enough.
Click here to search MacBain's Gaelic Dictionary - tip: from the drop-down menu, choose "Word"; and best results may come from using one search word. You will find a lot more than I have represented here; it also gives Irish, Old Irish, and other forms of words.
IG = Irish Gaelic, OI = Old Irish, SG = Scots Gaelic, W = Welsh. If I have a "?" then I can't figure out the pronunciation, or I'm guessing on what I do have. If you speak Gaelic, feel free to e-mail me corrections, or info to fill in the blanks. For more help on pronunciation, go to A Beginner's Guide to Irish Gaelic Pronunciation.
Last updated/added to: 19 May 2002
Thanks to Fionnabhair ó hOgain.
The Categories, in order:
Animals ~
Body
Parts/Features ~ Colors ~ Days/Months/Holidays/Seasons
Numbers ~
Places/Times ~
Relations ~ Everything Else ~
Phrases
| English | Gaelic | Pronunciation | Other Meanings | Lang. |
| Animals | Top | |||
| bird | ean, ian | ee-uhn, ee-an | -- | IG/SG, SG |
| cat | catt, cat | kat | -- | SG, IG |
| cat | pus | poos | -- | OI |
| cat | stidean | ? | -- | SG |
| cow | bó, buar1; earc2 | boh, | cattle1, heifer2 | IG; SG |
| dog | cù, choin | coo, koh-in? | -- | IG |
| fox | sionnach | shionak | -- | SG |
| horse | àigeach1, capull, steud2; capall, each3 | ?,?,?; kaw-pahl, awk | young horse1, steed2, mare3 | SG; IG |
| porpoise | cana | kan-a | young whale | SG/IG |
| seal | ròn, rón | rohn | -- | SG, IG/OI |
| whale | míol | mee-ohl | animal, louse | IG |
| Body Parts / Features | Top | |||
| arm | gàirdean, ruighne1 | ?, ? | forearm1 | SG |
| bald | calbh1, maol, calb | ?, mohl, kaw-luhb | head, pate1 | SG, SG/IG, IG |
| cheek | meil, put | ?, poot? | -- | SG/IG, SG |
| ear | cluas | cloo-uhs | -- | SG/IG |
| eye | sùil, súil | soo-eel | -- | SG, IG |
| foot | cas, cos | ?, kohs | leg | SG/IG |
| head (body) | ceann | kawn | -- | SG/IG |
| head | snaodh | ? | chief | SG |
| heart | cridhe, criodhe, croí | kree | -- | SG, IG, IG |
| leg | cas, cos | kahs, cohs | foot | SG |
| mouth | beul, gionach; bél, béal | ?, ?; byahl | -- | SG; IG |
| nose | sròn, srón | srohn | -- | SG, IG |
| tail (appendage) | sìup | see-oop? | -- | SG |
| Colors | Top | |||
| black | dubh | doov | dark, brown | IG, SG |
| blue | gorm | gohrum | green | IG, SG |
| brown | donn | dohn | -- | IG, OI, SG; SG |
| gold | òr, ór | ohr | -- | SG, IG |
| gray; grey | liath, lyart | lee-ah,? | -- | SG; IG |
| green | glas; uaine | glahs; ? | blue | IG/SG |
| orange | oráiste | orahsthah | -- | IG |
| pink | bándearg | bahn-djahreg | -- | IG |
| purple | purpaidh, purpuir, corcra1 | ?,?, kohr-krah | crimson1 | SG, IG, OI |
| red | carnaid, dearg, ruad, ruadh | ?, djahreg, rooa, roo-agh | -- | SG, IG/SG, IG, SG |
| silver | airgead | ahr-gyahd | -- | IG |
| white | bàn, càin; bán | bahn, cah-in; bahn | -- | SG; IG/OI |
| yellow | buidhe, buide | bwee | -- | SG, IG/OI |
| Days / Months / Holidays / Seasons | Top | |||
| Sunday | Di Dòmhnaich, Latha na Sàbaid | jee-doh-nich, laah nah saah-pitsh | -- | SG |
| Monday | Diluain | jee-loo-in | -- | SG |
| Tuesday | Dimàirt | jee-maarsh-tsh | -- | SG |
| Wednesday | Diciadain | jee-kee-ahtin | -- | SG |
| Thursday | Diardaoin | jee-ardeun | -- | SG |
| Friday | Dihaoine | jee-he-unyuh | -- | SG |
| Saturday | Disathairne | jee-sa-hurnah | -- | SG |
| January | am Faoilleach | ahm Feul-yoch | -- | SG |
| February | an Gearran | ahn G-yarrahn | -- | SG |
| March | am Màrt | ahm marsht | -- | SG |
| April | an Giblean | ahn geeblyahn | -- | SG |
| May | an Cèitean | ahn key-tchahn | -- | SG |
| June | an t-Og-mhìos | ahn tawg-viss | -- | SG |
| July | an t-Luchar | ahn tchoocher | -- | SG |
| August | an Lùnasdal | ahn loonuss-dull | -- | SG |
| September | an t-Sultain | ahn tool-teen | -- | SG |
| October | an Dàmhair | ahn dah-vair | -- | SG |
| November | an t-Samhain | ahn tavain | -- | SG |
| December | an Dùbhlachd | ahn doo-lochk | -- | SG |
| New Year's Day | Latha na Bliadhn' Uire | laah nah vleen oohra | -- | SG |
| Easter | Càisg, Càisgean | ? | -- | SG |
| May Day | Latha Buidhe Bealltainn | ? | -- | SG |
| Hallowe'en | Oidhche Shamhna | oyke havna? | -- | SG |
| Christmas | Nollaig, Nollaigean | nollik, nollik-an | -- | SG |
| New Year's Eve | Oidhche Challainn | oychae clallin | Hogmanay | SG |
| Autumn | Am Foghar, Foghair | ahm faohar | -- | SG |
| Spring | An t-Earrach, Earraichean | an tsharrach, arrachain? | -- | SG |
| Summer | An Samhradh, Samhraidhean | ahn sow-raygh, sow-raygh-ain? | -- | SG |
| Winter | An Geamhradh, Geamhraidhean | ahn gyow-raygh, gyow-raygh-ain? | -- | SG |
| Numbers | Top | |||
| zero | neoni | nyoh-nee | -- | SG |
| one, one of two | aon, dala/dàrna | aohn, dah-lah?/dayr-nah? | -- | SG |
| two | dà, dhà | daah | -- | SG |
| three | trì | tree | -- | SG |
| third | treas | tray-ass? | -- | SG |
| four | ceithir | ke-hir | -- | SG |
| five | còig | koh-ik | -- | SG |
| six | sè, sia | she, she-ah | -- | SG |
| seven | seachd | shachk | -- | SG |
| eight | ochd | ochk | -- | SG/IG |
| nine | naoi | naoy | -- | SG |
| ten | deich | jeh-ch | -- | SG |
| eleven | aon deug | aohn jeeak | -- | SG |
| twelve | dà dheug | daah jeeak | -- | SG |
| thirteen | trì deug | tree jeeak | -- | SG |
| fourteen | ceithir deug | ke-hir jeeak | -- | SG |
| fifteen | còig deug | koh-ik jeeak | -- | SG |
| sixteen | sia deug | she-ah jeeak | -- | SG |
| seventeen | sachd deug | schachk jeeak | -- | SG |
| eighteen | ochd deug | ochk jeeak | -- | SG |
| nineteen | naoi deug | naoy jeeak | -- | SG |
| thirty | deich air fhichead | jeh-ch ehr ichaht | -- | SG |
| twenty | fichead | fiaht | -- | SG |
| forty | dà fhichead | daah ichaht | -- | SG |
| fifty | caogad, leth-cheud | ?, lyeh cheeaht | -- | SG |
| sixty | trì fichead | tree fichaht | -- | SG |
| seventy | trì fichead 's a deich | tree fichaht sah jeh-ch | -- | SG |
| eighty | ceithir fichead | ke-hir fiaht | -- | SG |
| hundred | ceud, ceudan | kee-aht, kee-aht-ahn | -- | SG |
| thousand | mìle | meela | -- | SG |
| million | muillean | mul-luhn? | -- | SG |
| English | Gaelic | Pronunciation | Other Meanings | Lang. |
| Places/Times | Top> | |||
| barn | sabhal, sgiobal | sah-vahl?, ? | -- | SG |
| beach | cladach1, dòirling2 | kladack, ? | shore1, isthmus2 | SG |
| castle | caisteal, casteal, lùchairt1, màrrach2 | cashte-al, casheel, ?, mahr-rach? | palace1, enchanted castle2 | SG |
| cliff | stòr | stoor | steep cliff | SG |
| dawn | fàir | fah-eer? | -- | SG |
| hell | ifrinn | ifrin? | -- | SG |
| house | teach, tigh, brugh1; tech | chachk, ?, broozh?; ? | large house1 | SG/IG, SG; OI |
| island | innis, inis | innis | -- | SG, IG |
| meadow | bàrd1, dail2; bárd | bahrd?, dale | dyke1, enclosure1, dale2 | SG; IG |
| moon | easga, luan | ?, loo-an? | lunar? | SG |
| plain | raon | ? | field | SG |
| river | abhainn, aibhne, abann | ahv-ahn, ahv-nye?, ah-bahnn? | -- | IG, SG, OI |
| sea | aibheis, lear, tabh1; muir | ay-vees?, leer?, tawv, mew-er | ocean1 | SG; SG/IG/OI |
| star | reannag, rèalta | ?, ryahl-uh-tuh | -- | SG, IG |
| stars | rèaltan | ryal-uh-tuhn | -- | IG |
| sun | grian, grían | ? | -- | SG, OI |
| sunset | fuinim? | foo-i-nim? | -- | SG |
| tower | baideal, broch, tùr | ?, brok, tew-er? | -- | SG |
| twilight (daylight) | camhanaich | ? | sunrise? | SG |
| twilight (evening) | ìargail | ee-ar-gayl? | dusk? | SG |
| wall | balla | balla | -- | SG/IG |
| America | Ameireaga | ammeruga | -- | SG |
| Australia | Astràilia | astrahleea, ostrehleea | -- | SG |
| Canada | Canada | kah-nah-dah | -- | SG |
| China | Sina | sheenah | -- | SG |
| England | Sasann | sassun | -- | SG |
| France | an Fhraing | uh ra-eeng-g | -- | SG |
| Germany | a' Ghearmailt | uh yerrum-altch | -- | SG |
| Ireland | Eireann, Eire | eh-run, air | -- | SG, IG |
| Scotland | Alba | alabuh | -- | SG |
| Relations | Top | |||
| aunt | antaidh, antaidhean | ant-ee?, ? | -- | SG |
| brother | bráthair, bráthir, bràthair | vraahair | -- | IG, OI, SG |
| cousin | co-ogha, co-oghaichean | ?, ? | -- | SG |
| dad | Dadaí | DA-dee, same as daddy | -- | IG |
| darling | àilleagan, cagaran | ?, cah-gah-ran? | dear | SG |
| (the) daughter | an nighean | ahn nyee-an | -- | SG |
| daughter of my sister | a inghean no pheathar (?) | a ? mo feahar | (niece) | SG |
| son of my brother | a inghean no bràthar | a (?) mo vraahair | (niece) | SG |
| dear | cagaran1, daor, dìleas2, ionmhuinn, muileach3 | cah-gah-ran?, dahr?, dee-leas? | darling1, faithful2, beloved3 | SG |
| father | m' áthair | maher | -- | IG |
| friend | caraid, caomhach1 | chaa-ritsh, kaw-vahk? | bedfellow1 | SG |
| husband | mo duine, daoine | mo ghoonye, ? | man, person | SG |
| grandfather | seanáthair, sheanair, Tadgu or Taid | SHAN-awe-hir, hennair, tad-gee, tide | old father | IG, SG, W, W |
| grandmother | seanmháthair, shaenmhair | SHAN-maw-hir, hennaver | old mother | IG, SG |
| grandpa | Daideó | DA-doe | -- | IG |
| granny | Mamó | MA-moe | -- | IG |
| lad | smarach, an gille | ?, ahn geelye | young boy, the boy | SG |
| mother | máthair, máthir | MAW-hir | -- | IG, OI |
| mum | Mamaí | MA-mee, same as mammy | -- | IG |
| sister | siúr, piuthar | shoor | -- | IG, SG |
| son | am mac, claimhuinn1, dalta2 | ahm machk, dahl-ta? | son-in-law1, fosterson2 | SG |
| son of my sister | a mhic no pheathar | a vihc mo feahar | nephew | SG |
| son of my brother | a mhic no bràthar | a vihc mo vraahair | nephew | SG |
| spouse | cèile | ? | fellow | SG |
| uncle | uncail, uncailean | un-kahl, un-kah-luhn | -- | SG |
| wife | bhean | venn | -- | SG |
| Everything Else | Top | |||
| anger | daochan | ? | -- | SG |
| beautiful | àlainn | ah-layn | -- | SG |
| beauty | àille, maise, sgèimh, sgiamh; snuadh | ?, ?, ?, ?; ? | -- | SG; SG/IG |
| bent | cròm, staon1 | kroom, ? | awry1, shallow1 | SG |
| bright | sorcha | SOHR-uh-xuh | light | SG |
| clear | soilleir | ? | visible | SG |
| coffee | cofaìdh, cofaìdhean | ?, ? | -- | SG |
| curve | faoch | ? | -- | SG |
| dark | dorch, dorcha, dorche | DOHR-uh?, DOHR-uh-xuh?, ? | -- | SG, IG, OI |
| demon, demons | donas, deamhan, dheamhainnean | DO-nas, deoain, yoinean | devil | SG |
| devil | diabhoil | diavail | -- | SG |
| dislike | daoch1, thud2 | ?, hoot | horror1, impatience2 | SG |
| dry | seasg1, sgreag2, tioram; tigim | ?, ?, ?, chihg-ihm | barren1, parch2 | SG/IG, SG; IG |
| dull | dùr | ? | stubborn | SG |
| dumb | balbh, balb; baoth | ? | foolish | SG, IG/OI; SG |
| fast (from food) | aoine | ? | -- | SG |
| festivity | ceilidh | KAY-lee | party | SG |
| foe | biùthaidh | ? | -- | SG |
| food | biadh, cugan, lòn, tuar | bee-ahv?, koo-can?, loan?, too-ar? | -- | SG |
| ghost, ghosts | tannasg, tannasgach | tannasg, tannasg-ak? | spirit | SG |
| great | mór, immar, mòr | mohr, ee-mar?, mohr | big | IG, OI, SG |
| happy | sona | soana? | -- | SG |
| hard | cruiadgh, doirbh1, tuinnidh2; crua, deacair | ?, ?, ?; kroo-ah, djah-kahr | difficult1, firm2 | SG; IG |
| hate | fùrlaich | ? | -- | SG |
| health | fàilte | fahl-tcha? | -- | SG |
| heavy | cudrom, trom1 | ?, trohm? | weight1 | SG |
| high | àrd, uthard1 | ard, oo-hahrd? | above1 | SG |
| holy | naomh | nohv | -- | SG/IG |
| huge | adhbhal, aibheil | ? | -- | SG |
| legacy | dìleab, dilb | dee-lehab?, deelb? | -- | SG, IG |
| light | aingheal1, aotrom2, guanach3, solus, sorcha | ?, ?, ?, soh-luhs?, SOHR-uh-xuh | fire1, weight2, giddy3 | SG |
| liquid | tlìgheachd | ? | -- | SG |
| long | fad, fada; fota; luinge; sìor (continual) | fahd, fah-dah; ?; ?; ? | -- | IG/SG; OI; IG/SG; SG |
| loud | labhair | la-vair? | in a louod voice | SG |
| love | bàidh, cion1, gaol, gràdh, liobh, seirc; báidhe | bah-eev?, ?, gayle?, ?, ?, ?; bah-eev? | esteem1 | SG; IG |
| low | ìosal | ee-ah-sayl? | -- | SG |
| mad | buathadh1, farmad2 | ?, ? | fit1, envy2 | SG |
| magic | seun | ? | charm | SG |
| narrow | cumhang, cúmhang | ? | -- | SG, IG |
| one person | tì, tí | tee | -- | SG, IG, OI |
| pair | dithis | di-hiss? | -- | SG |
| party | ceilidh | KAY-lee | festivity | SG |
| quick | prap | prap | sudden | SG |
| quiet | bìth, sàmhach, seasgair1 | beeth, sav-ach?, ? | comfortable1 | SG |
| rough | fròmhaidh, garbh1, sgrabach2 | ? | hoarse1, ragged2 | SG |
| short | goirid, gairid, garit; mutach, mut | ? | -- | SG, IG, OI; SG, IG |
| slow | leug, mall | ?, mahl? | lazy, laziness | SG |
| small | frith, mean, mion | ? | -- | SG |
| smart | fùdraic | ? | good condition | SG |
| smell | boladh, bolad | ?, ? | -- | SG, IG |
| smooth | réidh, sleamhuinn | ? | plain, slippery | SG/IG |
| soft | bog, maoth, min, mòdhar, tais, tiom | boag?, meeth?, min, ?, tah-is?, ti-ohm? | -- | SG |
| speckled | breac, nas brice | ?, ? | -- | SG |
| stay | stad | stat | -- | SG |
| steep | lidh1, stac2, stòr3 | lee, stack?, stoor? | grassy slope1, precipice2, cliff3 | SG |
| stench | tùt | tewet | -- | SG |
| straight | rag | rag | stiff, benumbed, unwilling | SG |
| strong | bailceach, daingean, fortail, làidir | ? | hardy, firm | SG |
| stubborn | reasgach | ? | irascible, restive | SG |
| sweet | milc1, milis | mehlc?, mee-lihs | sweetness1 | SG, SG/IG |
| tall | thall | hall? | over, beyond | SG |
| tea | tì | tee | -- | SG |
| thick | tiugh | ? | -- | SG/IG |
| thin | tanaí | tah-nee | -- | SG/IG/OI |
| ugly | grànda, gràda, duaichnidh1 | ?, ?, ? | gloomy1 | SG |
| unpleasant smell | tòchd | ? | -- | SG |
| water | bùrn, dobhar, uisge | burn, dah-vahr?, uishge | -- | SG |
| weak | anfhann, anbhfann | ? | -- | SG, IG |
| wet | fliuch | flyuhk | -- | SG/IG/OI |
| wide | fairsing, farsaing, stàbhach | ? | asunder, straddling | SG/OI, SG |
| wind | gaoth, soilgheas | ? | fair wind | SG |
| wise | céillidh, finideach, glic | ? | sover | SG |
| English | Gaelic | Pronunciation | Lang. | |
| Phrases | Top | |||
| A good run is better than a bad stand | Is fear rith maith nà droch sheasamh | ? | SG | |
| A hundred thousand welcomes | Ceud Mìle Fàilte | kee-ut meeluh fal-tchuh | SG | |
| Cheerio, bye | Tìoraidh | ? | SG | |
| Farewell, kind friend | Slan leat, a charaid choir | slaan leaht, a karaid koir | SG | |
| Good-bye for now | Mar sin leibh an-dràsda | mahr sheen leev uhn drahs-dah | SG | |
| Good-bye then | Mar sin leibh ma-tha | mahr sheen leev mah hah | SG | |
| Good morning | Dia dhuit ar maìdin | Dee-ah djeet ahr mah-djeen | IG | |
| Good night | Oíche mhaith; Oidhche mhath | eehweh wvah; oyke vah | IG; SG | |
| Happy New Year | Bliadhna Mhath Ur | bleenah vah oohr | SG | |
| Happy birthday to you | Là breith sona dhuit | lah breh sonnuh ghoot | SG | |
| Hello (Hi [informal) | Hallò (Hai) | SG | ||
| Happy New Year | Bliadhna Mhath Ur | bleenah vah oohr | SG | |
| Honor is a tender thing | Is beadarrach an ni an onair | ? | SG | |
| How are you? | Ciamar a tha thu | kia-mar a haa hu | SG | |
| I'm sorry | Tha mi duilich | haa me doolich? | SG | |
| I am well | Tha mi gle mhath | ha mi glay vah | SG | |
| I love you | Mo gràdh (agam) ort | mo graag (agam?) orst | SG | |
| May all your days be happy ones | A h-uile là sona dhuibh's gun là idir dona dhuibh | uh hooluh lah sonnuh ghuh-eev skoon lah eejir donnuh ghug-eev | SG | |
| May you be healthy, upright and happy throughout your whole life. | Gum bi a' bheatha a' frasadh ort, a bhig, an fhallaineachd, an ionracas, an sonas mar thiodhlacan. | ? | SG | |
| May you be well | Slàn leibh | slahn leev | SG | |
| Merry Christmas | Nollaig chridheil | nollik chree-hel | SG | |
| My blessing | a bheanachd | a ve-anakd | SG | |
| My name is .... | [Name] is ainm dom | [Name] iss ah-nihm dohm | IG | |
| My friend | a charaid | a karaid | SG | |
| Thank you | tapa leibh, tapadh leat | tahpa leiv, tahpa leaht | SG | |
| To your good health | Slàinte mhath | slaainte vah | SG | |
| Welcome! | Fàilte! | fal-tchuh | SG | |
| What is your name? | Cad is ainm duit? | kahd iss ah-nihm djeet | IG |