Elements of Gaelic Place-names: a selection     NH, v.3, 010410

 

Key

 

g

genitive case

(e.g. in ‘of the green hill’, green is in the genitive case)

n

nominative case

(e.g. in ‘the green hill’, green is in the nominative case)

f

feminine

(all nouns in Gaelic are either feminine or masculine and adjectives change to match this)

m

masculine

 

s

singular

 

p

plural

 

 

 

1.     Natural features

 

a.     Water courses (rivers, burns)

 

Gaelic Say      Meaning         Comments     

 

abhainn

owEn

river

 

na h-

aibhne

n∂ haEn∂

of the river

 

(an t-)

allt 

(∂n t)owlt

(the) burn

‘alt’ unstressed

nan

allt

n∂n owlt

of the burns

 

 

alltan

owltan

wee burn

‘altan’ unstressed

 

àth

a:

ford

‘a’ unstressed

 

caochan

kaochan

wee burn

 

an

steall

∂ styowl

the spout (of water)

 

na

still

n∂ shtEl

of the spout (of water)

 

 

ùidh 

oo:E

channel (between lochs)

 

na h-

ùidhe

n∂ haoE

of the channel

 

 

uisg’

aoshk

water

 

an

uillt

∂n ooltj

of the burn

 

 

a.     Lochs, pools

 

            Gaelic Say      Meaning         Comments

an

loch

∂ loch

the loch

 

 

lochaidh

lochE

wee loch

 

 

lochain

lochan

wee lochs or of a wee loch  

 

an

lochain

∂ lochan

of the wee loch

 

 

lochan

lochan

wee loch

 

an

lochan

∂ lochan

the wee loch

 

 

poll                

pOool

pool

 

am

pollan

∂m pOlan

the wee pool

 

a’

phuill

∂ fooEl

of the pool

 

 

sùil

soo:l

‘sùil’ (i.e. lying water in a bog) (eye)

 

 

 

b.    Boggy, mossy and peaty places

 

            Gaelic Say      Meaning         Comment      

am

blàr

bla:r

the peat moss

 

 

fèith

fe:

bog

‘fe’ unstressed

na

fèithe

n∂ fe:h∂

of the bog

‘n∂ fe’ unstressed

nam

fèithean

n∂ fe:h∂n

of the bogs

 

an

lòin

∂ lO:n

of the moist flat

 

 

lòn

lO:n

moist flat

 

a’

mhòine

∂ vo:ny

the peaty ground

‘vony’ unstressed

 

mòine

mo:ny

peatland

 

na

mòine

n∂ mo:ny

of the peaty ground

‘mony’ unstressed

 

mointeach

montjoch

peaty ground

 

 

c.      Other water features and features in water

 

            Gaelic Say      Meaning         Comments

am

bàgh

∂m ba:gh

the bay

 

a’

bhàigh

∂ va:E

of the bay

 

an

camas

∂n kamas

the bay

 

 

creag

krAk

crag (on land) or rock (in water)

 

an

eas

∂ nyes

of the waterfall

 

(an t-)

eas

(∂n tj)es

(the) waterfall

 

an

easain

∂ nyesan

of the wee waterfalls

 

(an t-)

eilean

(∂n tj)Alan

(the) island

 

nan

eilean

n∂ nyAlan

of the islands

 

an

eilein

∂ nAl∂n

of the island

 

 

geo

 

gyo

narrow inlet

 

inbhir

EnEoor

bay or confluence

 

 

lùb

loo:p

bend (in river) or bay (in sea)

 

na

lùib

n∂ loo:∂p

of the bend or bay

 

 

òb

o:p

bay

‘op’ unstressed

 

port

porsht

landing

 

a’

phuirt

∂ foorsht

of the landing

 

an

sgeir

∂ skAr

the skerry

 

 

stac

stahk

(steep hill or) stack

 

 

staca

stahk

(of) (steep hill or) stack

 

 

ùmh           

oo:

cave

 

 

d.    Mountains, hills

 

            Gaelic Say      Meaning         Comments

 

beinn

bEn

mountain

English ‘ben’

na

beinne

n∂ bEny

of the mountain

 

 

bheinn

vEn

mountain

‘v∂n’ unstressed

a’

bhinnein

∂ vEny∂n

of the pinnacle

 

 

cathair

kah∂r

fairy knoll

 

na

cathrach

n∂ karoch

of the fairy knoll

 

chnoc

chrohk

of knolls

 

 

 

cnoc

krohk

knoll

 

 

cnuic

kraohk

(of) knoll

 

am

meall     

∂ mEowl

hill

‘mEel’ unstressed

am

meallan

∂ mEelan

hillock

 

an . . .

mheall

∂n . . . vEel

the . . . hill

unstressed

 

mheallan

vEelan

hillock

 

a’

mheallain

∂ vEel∂n

of the hillock

 

a’

mhill

∂ vEl

of the hill

 

na

mill

n∂ mEl

the hills

 

am

mullach

∂ mooloch

the summit

 

 

òrd

o:rd

(steep, round) hill

 

am

ploc

∂m plohk

the lump

 

 

sàil

sa:l

heel

 

an t-

sàil

∂n ta:l

the heel

‘∂n tal’ unstressed

 

sgorr

skor

the peak

 

an

sgùman

∂ skoo:m∂n

peak

 

an

sgùrr

∂ skoo:r

the peak

‘skoor’ unstressed

an

sìthean

∂ shE:han

the fairy hill

‘shEhan’ unstressed

 

spidean

spEtjAn

pinnacle

(‘bidein’ not used in W. Ross)

Gaelic

Say

Meaning

Comments

 

 

spiodan

spEtan

pinnacle

(‘bidein’ not used in W. Ross)

 

stac

stahk

steep hill or stack

 

 

staca

stahk

(of) steep hill or stack

 

 

stùc

stoo:hk

peak

‘stoohk’ unstressed

an

tom

∂n tOm

hill

 

an

toman

∂n toman

the hillock

 

 

tòrr

to:r

hill

 

an

torran

∂n toran

the hillock

 

an

torrain

∂n toran

of the hillock

 

an

tuim

∂n taoEm

of the hill

‘toom’ unstressed

 

e.      Other terms for high ground

 

Gaelic Say      Meaning         Comments

 

àird 

a:rt

promontory

 

an . . .

bhràigh

∂n . . . vraE

the . . . upland

but ∂ . . . before some letters

a’

bhràghad

∂ vra:∂t

of the upland

 

a’

bhràighe

∂ vra:E

of the upland

 

am

bràigh’

∂m bra:E

the upland

before a vowel

am

bràighe

∂m bra:E

the upland

 

an

càrn

∂n ka:rn

the cairn (natural or built)  ‘karn’ unstressed

 

an

càrnan

ka:rnan

the wee cairn

‘karnan’ unstressed

 

drochaid

drohEtj

ridge (from bridge)

W. Ross pronunciation without ‘ch’ sound

na

drochaide

n∂ drohetj∂

of the ridge

 

na

droma

n∂ drom∂

of the ridge

 

 

druim

drooEm

ridge

 

 

gob

gOp

point

 

 

goban 

gOpan

wee beak

 

an

rubha

∂ roo,oo

the headland or point

‘roo’ unstressed

 

sròin

stro:n

point

 

 

sròn

stro:n

point

‘stron’ unstressed

an t-

sròn

∂n tro:n

of the point

‘tron’ unstressed

 

teanga

tjega

tongue

 

na

teangaidh

n∂ tjeghE

of the tongue

 

 

 

f.      Slopes

 

            Gaelic Say      Meaning         Comments

an

aghaidh

∂n ∂ghE

the face

 

na h-

aghaidh

n∂ h∂ghE

of the face

 

 

bruthach

broooch

brae

variation of ‘bruthaich’

 

bruthaich 

brooEch

brae

variation of ‘bruthach’

 

cnap

krahp

lump

 

 

cnapach

krahpoch

lumpy

 

an

dìridh

∂n jE:rE

the ascent

‘jErE’ unstressed

an

leathad

∂ lye,at

the slope

‘le,at’ or ‘let’ unstressed

an

leitir

∂ lyAhtj∂r

the hillslope

 

na . . .

leitire

n∂ . . . lAhtj∂r

of the hillslope

 

 

maol

maol

bare hillside

 

a’

mhaoile

∂ vaol∂

of the bare hillside

 

 

g.     Rock words and features

 

            Gaelic Say      Meaning         Comments

a’

chreag

∂ chrAk

the crag

 

 

creag

krAk

crag (on land) or rock (in water)

 

 

creagan

krAkan

little crag

 

na

creige

n∂ krAk∂

of the crag

 

a’

chùirn

∂ choo:rn

of the cairn

 

 

clach

klach

stone

 

nan

clach

n∂n klach

of the stones

 

na

cloiche

n∂ klohE

of the stone

W. Ross pronunciation

leac

lyehk

slab

 

 

na

lice

n∂ lyEhk∂

of the slab

 

an

sgeir

∂ skAr

the skerry

 

 

h.    Valleys, hollows and passes

 

            Gaelic Say      Meaning         Comments

 

achlais

achlash

hollow

(armpit)

na h-

achlaise

n∂ hachlash

of the hollow

 

am

bealach

∂m byaloch

the pass

 

a’

bhealaich

∂ vyalEch

of the pass

 

an

cadha

∂n ka,a

the pass

 

na

cadhachan

n∂ ka,och∂n

the passes

 

nan

cadhaichean

n∂n kaEch∂n

of the passes

 

an . . .

choire

∂n chor∂

of the . . . corrie

e.g. an garbh choire

a’

choire

∂ chor∂

of the corrie

 

a’

choireag

∂ choryak

of the wee corrie

 

 

clais 

klash

gully

 

na

claise

n∂ klash∂

of the gully

 

an

coire

∂n kor∂

the corrie (hollow)

 

 

coireag

koryak

wee corrie

 

 

coir’

kor

corrie

(before a vowel)

 

cùil

koo:l

neuk (nook)

 

nan

cùileagan

n∂n koo:lak∂n

of the neuks (nooks)

 

a’

ghlac

∂ ghlahk

the hollow

 

a’

ghlinne

∂ ghlEny

of the glen (valley)

 

glac

glahk

hollow

 

 

na

glaice

n∂ glahk

of the hollow

 

 

gleann

glown

glen (valley)

‘glen’ unstressed

innis

EnEsh

haugh (hollow)

 

 

na h-

innse

n∂ hEnsh∂

of the haugh (hollow)

 

lag

lak

hollow

 

 

 

nead

nyet

nest

 

 

nid

nyEtj

(of) nest

 

an . . .

tholl

∂n haol

the . . . hollow

 

a’ . . .

thuill

∂ . . . hooEl

of the hollow

‘haol’ unstressed

an

toll

∂n tOool

the hollow

‘tOl’ unstressed

a’ . . .

tuill

∂ . . . taol

of the . . . hollow

 

an

tuill

∂n tooEl

of the hollow

‘taol’ unstressed

 

srath

stra

strath (broad valley)

 

 

i.       Woods, trees, plants, natural elements

 

            Gaelic Say      Meaning         Comments

 

bad

bat

clump

 

 

badan

batan

wee clump

 

 

beithe

bAh∂

(of) birch

 

a’

bhainne

∂ vany

of the milk

 

a’

chaorainn

∂ chaor∂n

of the rowan

 

an . . .

choille

∂n . . . chaoly

the . . . wood

e.g. an dubh choille

na . . .

choille

n∂ chaoly

of the . . . wood

e.g. na gearra choille

a’

chòineach

∂ chO:nyoch

the moss

 

a’

chòinteach

∂ chO:ntjoch

the moss

‘chOntjoch’ unstressed

 

chuilinn

choolEn

of holly

 

 

coille

kaoly

wood

 

na

coille

n∂ kaoly

of the wood

 

 

còinnich

ko:nyEch

mossy or of moss

 

 

cuileann

kool∂n

holly

 

 

doir’

daor

grove

before a vowel 

an

doire

∂n daor∂

the grove

e.g. An Doire Beithe

an

doire

∂n daor∂

of the grove

e.g. Allt an Doire Dharaich

 

doireachan

daoroch∂n

groves

 

nan

doireachan

n∂n daoroch∂n

of the groves

 

 

darach

daroch

oak

 

an

daraich

∂n darEch

of the oak

 

 

dharaich

gharEch

(of) oak

 

 

feàrna

fya:rn∂

alder

 

am

feur

∂ fEar

the grass

 

 

fheàrna

ya:rn∂

of alder

 

an

fhiodha

∂ nigh∂

of the wood (timber)

 

a’

ghiuthais

∂ yoo,oosh

of the fir

 

 

giubhais

goo,oosh

fir

 

 

iù

Eoo:

?yew

‘oo:’ in speech

 

rainich

ranyEch

of the rushes

 

 

raineach

ranyoch

rushes

 

 

rointeach

rontjoch

rushes

 

 

seileach

shAloch

willow

 

 

seilich

shAlEch

of willow

 

 

 

j.       Animals, birds, fish

 

            Gaelic Say      Meaning         Comments

na

bèiste

n∂ bAshtj∂

of the beast

 

a’

bhric

∂ vrEhk

of the trout

 

nam

biast

n∂m bE∂st

of the beasts

 

nan

caorach

n∂n kaoroch

of the sheep

 

a’

chruidh

∂ chraoE

of the cattle

 

a’

choin

∂ chon

of the dog

‘a’ choin uidhre’ is of the otter

nan

con

n∂n kon

of the dogs

 

 

cuileag

koolak

fly

 

an

daimh

∂n day

of the stag

 

nan

damh

n∂n dav

of the stags

 

 

each

e∂ch

horse

 

nan

each

n∂ nye∂ch

of the horses

 

an

eich

∂ nyAch

of the horse

 

an

eòin

∂ nyo:n

of the bird

 

 

eun

Ean

bird

 

nan

eun

n∂ nEan

of the birds

 

an

fhithich

∂ nE,Ech

of the raven

 

nan

gobhar

n∂n gOoor

of the goats

 

na

goibhre

n∂ gaoEr∂

of the goat 

 

na h-

iolaire

n∂ hElar∂

of the eagle

 

 

laogh

laogh

calf

 

nan

laogh

n∂ laogh

of the calves

usually, deer calves

an

laoigh

∂ looE

of the calf

 

nam

madadh

n∂ matE

of the foxes

 

a’

mhadaidh

∂ vatE

of the fox

 

nam

muc

n∂ moohk

of the pigs

 

na

muice

n∂ maohk

of the pig

 

an

tairbh

taray

of the bull

 

an

uain

∂n ooan

of the lamb

 

 

uan

ooan

lamb

 

nan

uan

n∂n ooan

of the lambs

 

 

k.    Locational terms and parts of the body

 

            Gaelic Say      Meaning         Comments

 

achlais

achlash

hollow

(armpit)

na h-