Gaelach

See also: gaelach

Irish

Alternative forms

• Gaedhealach (Ulster, otherwise superseded)
• Gaedhlach, Gaeulach, Gaodhalach, Gaodhlach, Gaoidhealach (obsolete)

Etymology

From Gael +‎ -ach (adjectival suffix).

Pronunciation

• (Munster) IPA^(key): /ˈɡeːl̪ˠəx/
• (Connacht) IPA^(key): /ˈɡeːlˠəx/, /ˈɡeːl̪ˠəx/
• (Ulster) IPA^(key): /ˈɡeːlˠa(x)/, /ˈɡeːl̪ˠa(x)/

Adjective

Gaelach (genitive singular masculine Gaelaigh, genitive singular feminine Gaelaí, plural Gaelacha, comparative Gaelaí)

1. Gaelic (relating to the Gaels or their language)
2. Irish (pertaining to Irish Gaelic culture)
3. (usually in lowercase: gaelach) native to Ireland; homely, pleasant; common, ordinary

Usage notes

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

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

• 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

• Gaeilge
• Gaelaigh
• Gaelú

Mutation

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

• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “Gaelach”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
• de Bhaldraithe, Tomás (1959) “Gaelach”, in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm
• “Gaelach”, in New English-Irish Dictionary, Foras na Gaeilge, 2013-2024