See also: balbhan

Irish edit

Etymology edit

From Middle Irish *balbán (compare Scottish Gaelic balbhan), synchronically balbh (dumb, mute; inarticulate; dull; silent) +‎ -án.

Pronunciation edit

  • (Ulster) IPA(key): /ˈbˠɔlˠəwanˠ/, /ˈbˠɔl̪ˠəwan̪ˠ/[1] (as if spelled bolbhán)

Noun edit

balbhán m (genitive singular balbháin, nominative plural balbháin)

  1. dumb person, mute
  2. silent person
  3. stammerer
  4. (card games) dummy

Declension edit

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

Mutation edit

Irish mutation
Radical Lenition Eclipsis
balbhán bhalbhán mbalbhán
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References edit

  1. ^ Quiggin, E. C. (1906) A Dialect of Donegal, Cambridge University Press, page 54

Further reading edit