beathach
/ˈb̥ehəx/masculine
The English word "beast" is translated into Gaelic as beathach. Wiktionary also lists ainmhidh.
Meaning: non-human animal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Gaelic | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| beathach | /ˈb̥ehəx/ /ˈb̥ehax/ |
masculine |
| ainmhidh | masculine |
This term refers to a non-human animal.
Which one should you use?
The forms beathach and ainmhidh both refer to a beast or animal. Both are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈb̥ehəx/
Did you know?
- If you call something an ainmhidh, you are literally describing it as something that 'has the breath of life'.
- While English uses 'beast' to sometimes imply something monstrous, the Gaelic beathach is fundamentally rooted in the idea of being 'animated' or 'alive'.
- In the development of the language, the line between a 'living soul' and a 'living creature' was much thinner than it is in English.
Examples in context
- Chunnaic mi beathach anns an fhàsach.I saw a beast in the wilderness.
Example conversation
Isla and Angus are visiting a local farm.
- IslaDè an beathach a tha seo, a Angus?What animal is this, Angus?
- AngusIs e capybarra a th' ann.It is a capybara.
- IslaTha an beathach seo gu math cròil.This animal is very friendly.
- AngusTha iad uile cròil an seo.They are all friendly here.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beast” translations and entries beathach, ainmhidh, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
