Ways to say it
| Gaelic | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| leanabh | /ˈʎãnu/ (Lewis) /ˈʎanəv/ |
masculine |
| leanaban | masculine | |
| naoidhean | /ˈn̪ˠɤ̃ĩʝan/ /ˈn̪ˠũĩʝɛɲ/ |
masculine |
The terms used for a baby describe a very young human being. In an affectionate or familiar context, you might hear people use the phrase Mo leanabh to mean 'my baby' or even Mo ghràidh to mean 'my love'.
Which one should you use?
There are three forms of the word: leanabh, leanaban and naoidhean. leanabh is the standard singular form, while leanaban is the oblique singular form. naoidhean is the plural form used when referring to more than one baby.
How does it change in a sentence?
leanabh is the singular nominative form. Use the oblique form leanaban after prepositions or in specific grammatical constructions. For the plural, use naoidhean. All forms are masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʎãnu/
When do people say it?
In affectionate speech, speakers may use the term Mo ghràidh (my love) as a term of endearment for a baby.
Did you know?
- The word leanabh is related to the verb lean, which means 'to follow'. This suggests that a baby is viewed as someone who follows after their parents.
- The plural form naoidhean is a linguistic phenomenon called suppletion, meaning it comes from a completely different root than the singular leanabh.
- In Scottish Gaelic, the way you pronounce the vowels in leanabh can change drastically depending on whether you are in the Hebrides or on the mainland.
Examples in context
- Chan eil mo leanabh cho brèagha ri do leanabhMy baby is not as beautiful as yours
- Tha an leanabh a' cadal.The baby is sleeping.
- Tha an leanabh glè chòir.The baby is very cute.
Example conversation
Isla and Hamish are looking at a photograph.
- IslaCoinnich an leanabh!Look at the baby!
- HamishTha e cho cgòilteach.He is so cute.
- IslaIs e leanabh tòrr fhad a th' ann.He is a very long baby.
- HamishTha an t-athair fada cuideachd.The father is tall too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “baby” translations and entries leanabh, leanaban, naoidhean, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
