cù
/ˈkʰuː/masculine
The English word "dog" is translated into 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 dog.
Which one should you use?
Both cù and madadh are masculine terms for a dog.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the definite article "the" with cù, the form remains cù but is preceded by the article an (e.g., an cù).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkʰuː/
Did you know?
- The term madadh is related to the Irish madadh, which can also refer to a juniper bush in certain contexts, though the meaning 'dog' is distinct.
- The word cù is a cognate of the Irish 'cú', appearing in the legendary tale of Cú Chulainn, whose name means 'Culann's Hound'.
- If you are talking about a 'dog of a man' in a derogatory sense, you might use the word madadh, which carries a more visceral, sometimes scavenger-like connotation than the formal cù.
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 regarding tiredness.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 illustrates the use of cù to describe a dog's 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 demonstrates how to use cù with adjectives describing color and size.Tatoeba #851887 by marloncori, translation #851972 by marloncori
- Tha cù òg agam.I have a young dog.
- Bha e coltach ri madadh beag a' dol timcheall.He looked like a small dog running around.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Isla and Hamish are walking in a park.
- IslaA bheil cù agad, a Hamish?Do you have a dog, Hamish?
- HamishCha bhi, ach tha cù aig mo sister.I don't, but my sister has a dog.
- IslaAn e cù mòr a th' ann?Is it a big dog?
- HamishTha, 's e cù glè mhòr a th' ann.Yes, it is a very big 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.
