màthair

See also: Màthair and máthair

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

From Old Irish máthir, from Proto-Celtic *mātīr, from Proto-Indo-European *méh₂tēr.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmaːhɪɾʲ/
• (Lewis, South Uist) IPA^(key): [ˈmaːhað]
• (Islay, mainland Argyll) IPA^(key): [ˈmɛːɛɾʲ]

Noun

màthair f (genitive singular màthar, plural màthraichean)

1. mother

   Tha gaol agam air mo mhàthair. ― I love my mother.

2. dam (of a beast)
3. cause, source

Declension

Declension of màthair (type Vb feminine noun)

Indefinite
	Singular	Plural
Nominative	màthair	màthraichean
Genitive	màthar	mhàthraichean
Dative	màthair	màthraichean
Definite
	Singular	Plural
Nominative	(a') mhàthair	(na) màthraichean
Genitive	(na) màthar	(nam) màthraichean
Dative	(a') mhàthair	(na) màthraichean
Vocative	(a) mhàthair	(a) mhàthraichean

Derived terms

• an leanabh a dh'fhàgar dha fhèin, cuiridh e a mhàthair gu nàire (“the child who is left by himself, he shall bring his mother to shame”)
• àrd-mhàthair (“matriarch”)
• bràthair-màthar (“maternal uncle”)
• Là nam Màthraichean (“Mother's Day”)
• leas-mhàthair (“stepmother”)
• màthair-altraim f (“nurse”)
• màthair-bhaiste (“godmother”)
• màthair-chèile (“mother-in-law”)
• piuthar-màthar (“maternal aunt”)
• taobh màthar (“maternal (genealogical)”)

 

Mutation

Scottish Gaelic mutation
Radical	Lenition
màthair	mhàthair
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.