Gaeilge

Irish

Alternative forms

• Gaedhealg, Gaedhilge (superseded)
• Gaedhlaing, Gaolainn, Gaoluinn, Gaelainn (Munster)
• Gaeilinn (Waterford)
• Gaeilg, Gaeilic, Gaedhlag, Gaedhilg, Gaelighe (Ulster)

Etymology

From older Gaedhilge, originally the genitive of Classical Gaelic Gaedhealg, Gaoidhealg, from Old Irish Goídelc.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡeːlʲɟɪ/
• (Munster) IPA^(key): /ˈɡeːl̪ˠənʲ/, [ˈɡɰeːl̪ˠɪnʲ], [ˈɡɰeːl̪ˠɪɲ] (corresponding to the form Gaelainn or Gaedhlaing)
• (Galway) IPA^(key): /ˈɡeːlʲɟɪ/, [ˈɡɰeːlʲɟɪ]
• (Mayo, Ulster) IPA^(key): /ˈɡeːlʲɪc/ (corresponding to the form Gaedhilg or Gaeilic)

Proper noun

Gaeilge f (genitive Gaeilge)

1. the Irish language
   • 1899, Franz Nikolaus Finck, Die araner mundart, Marburg: Elwert’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, vol. II, p. 123:

     šḱŕīvn̥̄ šē n ʒēlǵə gə rī wȧ.

     Scríobhann sé an Ghaeilge go rí-mhaith. (conventional orthography)

     He writes Irish very well.

2. any Gaelic language

Declension

Declension of Gaeilge

Fourth declension

Bare forms (no plural of this noun) Case Singular Nominative Gaeilge Vocative a Ghaeilge Genitive Gaeilge Dative Gaeilge

Forms with the definite article Case Singular Nominative an Ghaeilge Genitive na Gaeilge Dative leis an nGaeilge don Ghaeilge

Synonyms

• (Irish language): Gaeilge na hÉireann
• (Modern Irish): Nua-Ghaeilge

Derived terms

• Gaeilge Mhanann
• Gaeilge na hAlban
• Gaeilge na hÉireann
• Gaeilgeoir

Related terms

• Gaeilgeoireacht f (“(act of) speaking Irish”)

Mutation

Irish mutation
Radical	Lenition	Eclipsis
Gaeilge	Ghaeilge	nGaeilge
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Further reading

• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977), “Gaeilge”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
• G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “Goídelc”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
• Dinneen, Patrick S. (1904), “Gaeḋealg”, in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla, 1st edition, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, page 345
• Entries containing “Gaeilge” in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm, 1959, by Tomás de Bhaldraithe.
• Entries containing “Gaeilge” in New English-Irish Dictionary by Foras na Gaeilge.

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

From Irish. Doublet of Gàidhlig.

Proper noun

Gaeilge f (genitive Gaeilge)

1. the Irish Gaelic language

   Synonym: Gàidhlig na h-Èireann

Mutation

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