beag
/b̥ek/
beag is the Gaelic word for small.
beag is used to describe something that is small in size or amount.
How does it change in a sentence?
While the feminine singular form remains beag, the masculine plural form is beaga.
How do you pronounce it?
/b̥ek/
Did you know?
- The word beag is a distant relative of the English word 'big'. In Proto-Celtic, it meant 'small', but it evolved into a word for 'large' in the Germanic branch of languages.
- In Gaelic culture, adding beag to a name or description can be a term of endearment, similar to adding 'little' to a nickname in English.
- Gaelic uses beag in the phrase beag an t-àm, which literally means 'small the time' but is used to say 'it is nearly time' or 'time is short'.
Examples in context
- Tha an doras beag.The door is small.
- Tha e beag.It is small.
Example conversation
Catriona and Hamish are looking at a new puppy.
- CatrionaSeall air an cuilean beag!Look at the small puppy!
- HamishTha e uaine agus beag.He is cute and small.
- CatrionaAn t-athra beag a tha e.He is a little father.
- HamishTha e beag a dhìreach.He is truly small.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry beag, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries beag, CC BY-SA 4.0.
