Gaelach
See also: gaelach
Irish edit
Alternative forms edit
- Gaedhealach (Ulster, otherwise superseded)
Etymology edit
From Gael + -ach (adjectival suffix).
Pronunciation edit
- (Munster) IPA(key): /ˈɡeːl̪ˠəx/
- (Connacht) IPA(key): /ˈɡeːlˠəx/, /ˈɡeːl̪ˠəx/
- (Ulster) IPA(key): /ˈɡeːlˠa(x)/, /ˈɡeːl̪ˠa(x)/
Adjective edit
Gaelach (genitive singular masculine Gaelaigh, genitive singular feminine Gaelaí, plural Gaelacha, comparative Gaelaí)
- Gaelic (relating to the Gaels or their language)
- Irish (pertaining to Irish Gaelic culture)
- (usually in lowercase: gaelach) native to Ireland; homely, pleasant; common, ordinary
Usage notes edit
Gaelach and Éireannach can both be translated “Irish”, but Gaelach refers specifically to traditional Irish Gaelic culture, historically associated with the Irish language. Éireannach refers to anything associated with the island or country of Ireland. Gaelach can also refer to Gaelic culture outside of Ireland, for example in Scotland, the Isle of Man, and the diaspora.
Declension edit
Declension of Gaelach
| Singular | Plural (m/f) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive | Masculine | Feminine | (strong noun) | (weak noun) |
| Nominative | Gaelach | Ghaelach | Gaelacha; Ghaelacha² | |
| Vocative | Ghaelaigh | Gaelacha | ||
| Genitive | Gaelaí | Gaelacha | Gaelach | |
| Dative | Gaelach; Ghaelach¹ |
Ghaelach; Ghaelaigh (archaic) |
Gaelacha; Ghaelacha² | |
| Comparative | níos Gaelaí | |||
| Superlative | is Gaelaí | |||
¹ When the preceding noun is lenited and governed by the definite article.
² When the preceding noun ends in a slender consonant.
Derived terms edit
- aiteann gaelach (“dwarf whin”)
- caife Gaelach (“Irish coffee”)
- cló Gaelach (“Gaelic type”)
- cnó gaelach (“hazel-nut”)
- damhsa Gaelach (“Irish dancing”)
- Gaelachas (“Irish characteristic(s)”)
- míle Gaelach (“Irish mile”)
- peil Ghaelach (“Gaelic football”)
- rince Gaelach (“Irish dancing”)
- stobhach Gaelach (“Irish stew”)
Related terms edit
Mutation edit
| Irish mutation | ||
|---|---|---|
| Radical | Lenition | Eclipsis |
| Gaelach | Ghaelach | nGaelach |
| Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs. | ||
Further reading edit
- Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “Gaelach”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
- Entries containing “Gaelach” in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm, 1959, by Tomás de Bhaldraithe.
- Entries containing “Gaelach” in New English-Irish Dictionary by Foras na Gaeilge.