cù
/ˈkʰuː/masculine
The English word 'dog' translates to Gaelic as cù. Wiktionary also lists madadh.
Meaning: animal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Gaelic | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cù | /ˈkʰuː/ | masculine |
| madadh | /ˈmat̪əɣ/ | masculine |
Both cù and madadh are masculine nouns used to refer to the animal.
Which one should you use?
cù is the default form, while madadh is another way to express the same concept.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the definite article 'the' with cù, the word remains cù but is preceded by the article an (an cù).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkʰuː/
Did you know?
- Gaelic uses the word cù in various compound words for other animals, such as cù-fhiadh for a 'wolf', which literally means 'deer-dog'.
- The word cù appears in the name of the famous mythological hero Cú Chulainn, which literally translates to 'Culann's Hound'.
- While cù is the general word for 'dog', madadh is frequently used in Gaelic folklore and mythology to describe supernatural hounds or wolves.
Examples in context
- Tha mise cho sgìth ri cù!I am as tired as a dog.This sentence shows how to use cù in a comparison.Tatoeba #5751674 by Catriona, translation #5751675 by Catriona
- Bha an cù anns a’ bhocsa fon bhòrd.The dog was in the box under the table.This sentence shows the use of cù in a sentence regarding location.Tatoeba #851906 by marloncori, translation #851951 by marloncori
- Tha an cù donn beag ann fon bhòrd sin.There is a small brown dog under that table.This sentence illustrates how to describe a cù using color and size.Tatoeba #851887 by marloncori, translation #851972 by marloncori
- Chunnaic mi madadh bòidheach sa phairc an-diugh.I saw a beautiful dog in the park today.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Callum and Mairead are walking in a park.
- CallumSeall air an cù beag sin!Look at that little dog!
- MaireadTha e uasal agus brèagha.He is noble and beautiful.
- CallumAm measgeach an cù agad, Mairead?Is that your dog, Mairead?
- MaireadCha e, chan e mo chù a tha seo.No, this is not my dog.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dog” translations and entries cù, madadh, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
