balbh

Irish

Etymology

From Old Irish balb, from Latin balbus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbˠalˠəvˠ/

Adjective

balbh (genitive singular masculine bailbh, genitive singular feminine bailbhe, plural balbha, comparative bailbhe)

1. dumb
2. inarticulate
3. (of sound) dull

Declension

Declension of balbh

	Singular		Plural (m/f)
Positive	Masculine	Feminine	(strong noun)	(weak noun)
Nominative	balbh	bhalbh	balbha; bhalbha²
Vocative	bhailbh		balbha
Genitive		bailbhe	balbha	balbh
Dative	balbh; bhalbh¹	bhalbh; bhailbh (archaic)	balbha; bhalbha²
Comparative	níos bailbhe
Superlative	is bailbhe

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

• balbhán m (“dumb person, mute; stammerer”)

References

• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “balbh”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
• Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “balb”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language

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Scottish Gaelic

Etymology

From Old Irish balb, from Latin balbus.

Adjective

balbh

1. mute, dumb (unable to speak)
2. silent, still

Related terms

• balbh-bhuidhre
• balbh-chluich
• balbh-thinneas
• balbhachd
• balbhadh
• balbhan

 

References

• Edward Dwelly (1911) “balbh”, in Faclair Gàidhlig gu Beurla le Dealbhan [The Illustrated Gaelic–English Dictionary]‎^[1], 10th edition, Edinburgh: Birlinn Limited, →ISBN
• Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “balb”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language