Elements of Gaelic Place-names: a selection NH, v.2a, 241107
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
m masculine change to match this)
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
b.
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)
c.
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
d.
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
e.
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
f.
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
g.
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
h.
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
i.
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)
j.
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
k.
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
l.
Locational terms and parts of the body
Gaelic Say Meaning Comments
achlais achlash hollow (armpit)
na h- achlaise n∂ hachlash of the hollow
an aghaidh ∂n ∂ghE the face
na h- aghaidh n∂ h∂ghE of
the face
an ceann ∂n kyown the end or the head ‘kyan’ or
‘kyow’ unstressed
nan ceann n∂n kyown of the heads
cheann chyown head
a’ chinn ∂ chEn of
the end or head
a’ chùl ∂ choo:l the back ‘chool’ unstressed
na crìche n∂ krEch∂ of the boundary
a’ chìoch ∂ chE∂ch the
breast
crìoch krEoch boundary
cùl koo:l back
na droma n∂ drom∂ of
the ridge
druim drooEm ridge (back)
gob gOp point
sàil sa:l heel
an t- sàil ∂n ta:l the heel ‘∂n tal’ unstressed
2. Colour terms
Gaelic Say Meaning Comments
bàn ba:n fair
(nms)
bàine ba:n∂ fair (gfs)
bhàin va:n fair (gms)
bhreac vrehk speckled
(nfs) ‘vrEhk’ locally
bhuidhe vooE yellow
(nfs)
breac brAhk speckled
(nms)
brice brEhk∂ speckled
(gfs)
buidhe booE yellow (nms)
dearg jerek red
(nms)
dearga jerek∂ red (p)
deirg jArAk red
(gfs)
dhearg yerek red
(nfs)
dheirg yArAk red (gms)
dhubh ghoo black
(nfs)
dhuibh ghooE black
(gms)
donn dOoon brown
(nms)
dubh doo black
(nms)
dùbh doo: black (strongly) stressed
duibhe dooE black
(gfs)
dubha doooo black (p)
fionn
fyoon white
(nms)
geala gyal∂ white (p)
ghlais ghlash grey
or green (gms)
ghlas ghlas grey
or green (nfs)
ghorm ghorom green
or blue (nfs)
glas glas grey or green (nms)
glasa glas∂ grey or green (p)
glaise glash∂ grey (gfs)
gorm gorom green or
blue (nms)
guirm gooroom green or blue (gfs)
lèith le: / lye: grey or hoary (gm/fs) depends on gender
liath lyE∂ / lE∂ grey or hoary (nf/ms) depends on gender
odhar Ooor light
brown (ns)
riabhach rE∂och brindled (ns or p)
riabhaich rE∂,Ech brindled (gs)
ruadh roo∂gh reddish-brown (ns)
ruaidhe roo∂E reddish-brown (gfs)
uaine ooany green
uidhir aoEr light brown (gs) variation of ‘uidhre’
3. Artificial
features
a. Areas of
land
Gaelic Say Meaning Comments
acha’ ach∂ hill-field see ‘achadh’
achadh ach∂gh hill-field ‘achk’ or ‘ach∂’ unstressed
an achaidh ∂ nachE of
the hill-field
achd achk hill-field see ‘achadh’
crait kratj croft variation of ‘croit’
lota lohta croft
a’ phàirce ∂ fa:rky∂ the park
raon raon field
an ruigh ∂ rE the
shieling ground
an ruighe ∂ rE of the shieling
ground
b. Dwellings and other structures
Gaelic Say Meaning Comments
àirigh a:rE shieling ‘arE’ unstressed
àthann a:han kiln
baile bal∂ township
an . . . bhaile ∂n . . . val∂ of the . . . township but ∂ . . . before some letters
a’ bhàthaich va:Ech of
the byre
buaile boo∂l∂ the
(cattle) fold
nam buailtean n∂m booaltj∂n of the
(cattle) folds
cachaileath kach∂la gateway
an caisteal ∂n kasht∂l the
castle
an càrn ∂n ka:rn the
cairn (natural or built) ‘karn’ unstressed
cidhe kE,E jetty
cladh klaogh graveyard
dùn doo:n fort ‘doon’ unstressed
am fasadh ∂ fas∂gh the
dwelling-place
am fuaran
∂ foo∂ran the
well
fhuaran oo∂ran well
na fùirneis n∂ foo:rnash of the furnace
làrach la:roch remains
(of building) ‘laroch’ unstressed
pasaid pasatj passage (access way through
crofts)
a’ phasaid ∂ fasatj the
passage
rathad rahat road
sràid stra:tj street
taigh taE house
an taighe ∂n tahE of the house ‘ta’ unstressed
an teallach ∂n tjaloch the forge
an teallaich ∂n tjalEch of the forge
tobhta
tOhta ruin
tuathanas tooan∂s farm
c. Occupations,
implements
Gaelic Say Meaning Comments
a’ ghobha ∂ ghOoo of
the smith
a’ ghobhann ∂ ghOoon of
the smith
gobha gOoo (black)
smith
a’ mhuidhe ∂ vooE of
the churn
am poca ∂m pohk∂ the bag
nan ramh n∂ ra:v of the oars
an rathain ∂ rahan of
the pulley
na rathanan n∂ rahan∂n the
pulleys
nan sealg n∂ shalak of the hunts
4. Types of
people and names
Gaelic Say Meaning Comments
a’ bhodaich ∂ votEch of
the old man
am bodach botoch the
old man
na caillich n∂ kalyEch of the old woman
a’ chailleach ∂ chalyoch the
old woman
Dhomhnaill gho:ol Donald’s see also ‘Domhnaill’
Domhnaill do:ol Donald ‘Donald’s’ after some letters (l, n, r)
an duine doony the
man
Eachainn ech∂n of Hector
nam fear n∂ fer of the men
Fhearchair erech∂r of Farquhar
an fhomhair ∂ noar of
the giant
mac mahk son
màthair ma:h∂r mother
a’ mhaighdean ∂ vaoEtj∂n the maiden
mhic vEhk of
the son
Mhic
’illeathain vEhkEly∂n of Maclean
Mhurchaidh vooroochE of Murdo
na nighinn n∂ nyE,En of the daughter variation of ‘inghe’ but ‘na h-inghinn’ (n∂ hEnE,En) in Gairloch
5. Other
descriptive terms
Gaelic Say Meaning Comments
beag bAk wee
(nms)
beaga bAk∂ wee (p)
bheag vAk wee
(nfs)
bhig vEk wee (gms)
bhriste vrEshtj∂ broken (nfs)
bige bEk∂ wee
(gfs)
biorach bEroch sharp
(nms)
briste brEshtj∂ broken (nms)
caime kaEm crooked or
hidden or one-eyed (gfs)
cam kowm crooked or hidden or one-eyed
caol kaol narrow (nms)
caolas kaol∂s narrows
chaim
chaEm crooked
or hidden or one-eyed (gms)
chaol chaol narrow
(nfs)
cheud chE∂t hundred
chrom chrOoom curved or crooked
chrombuill chrowmbool winding
clàir kla:r flat
crom krOoom curved
or crooked
domhainn doEn deep (nms)
doimhne daon∂ deep (gfs)
fada fat∂ long (nms or p)
fhiadhaich E∂Ech wild
fhuar hoo∂r cold (nfs)
frìth frE: small ‘frE’ unstressed
fuar foo∂r cold (nms)
garbh garav rough (nms) also
‘gara’
geàrr gya:r short ‘gyar’ unstressed
gharbh gharav rough
(nfs)
ghrànda ghra:nt∂ ugly or nasty
(nfs or p)
gobhlach gO:loch forked
gun g∂n without
ìosal E: ∂s∂l low
(ns or p)
ìsle E:shl∂ low
(gs)
is is and n.b. say ‘is’, not
‘iz’
leathan lehen broad
meadhanach mEanoch middle
mheadhanach vEanoch middle
mhòir vO:r big
(gms)
mhòr vO:r big
(nfs)
mòire mO:r∂ big (gfs)
mòr mO:r big (nms)
mòra mO:r∂ big (p)
rèidh re: smooth
(g/ns)
seana shen∂ old
seann shown old
sgoilte skoltj∂ split
tarsainn tars∂n transverse or sideways
© Nevis Hulme, 2007
This document may be printed for personal study so long as
it is not redistributed or used for profit.
Nevis
Hulme, 6 Allt Grìsean, Geàrrloch, Siorrachd Rois, IV21 2DZ