tlachd
The English word 'delight' is translated into Gaelic as tlachd.
tlachd is a noun used to express the concept of joy or pleasure. To express the specific idea of 'great delight', you can use the phrase aoibhneachd air leth.
Meaning: joy, pleasure (noun)
Did you know?
- The semantic jump from 'protection' to 'pleasure' suggests that, for ancient speakers, being 'covered' or 'sheltered' was a primary source of delight.
- The word tlachd shares a conceptual root with terms for 'ornament' and 'beauty' in Old Irish, suggesting that delight was originally viewed as something that embellishes life.
- While tlachd is a general term for pleasure, the phrase aoibhneachd air leth evokes a sense of celestial or transcendent joy, often used in poetic or spiritual contexts.
Examples in context
- Tha sin cho aoibhinn!That is so delightful!
- Fhuair mi aoibhneas mhòr às a bhith ga faicinnI received great delight from seeing it
Example conversation
Finlay and Mairead are meeting for the first time.
- FinlayTha tlachd ann an t-sitid.It is a pleasure to meet you.
- MaireadTha tlachd ann an t-sitid cuideachd.It is a pleasure to meet you too.
- FinlayA bheil thu a' faighinn tlachd às an latha?Are you finding delight in the day?
- MaireadTha, tha e sgoinneil!Yes, it is wonderful!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry tlachd, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tlachd, CC BY-SA 4.0.
